The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024, the 15th edition of the tournament for young cricket talents, is slated to begin on January 19, 2024. In a change of plans, South Africa will host the event, taking over from Sri Lanka, which initially had the hosting rights. The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as a result of political meddling in the nation, which led to this change in circumstances.
The tournament spans 23 days, featuring a total of 48 matches among 16 teams. India stands as the most successful team in the history of the U-19 World Cup, having secured the trophy five times. They enter the competition as defending champions, having triumphed in the U-19 World Cup 2022 in the West Indies, where they defeated England in the finals. The 16 participating teams are divided into four groups, with the top three from each group advancing to the Super 6 stage. The Super 6 stage consists of two groups, Group 1 and Group 2, each composed of six teams. Group 1 includes the top three teams from groups A and D, while Group 2 comprises teams from groups B and C. The top two teams from each Super 6 group will progress to the semi-finals, while lower-ranked teams will engage in placement games to determine positions 13 through 16.
Here’s a breakdown of the groups:
Group A: India, Bangladesh, Ireland, and the USA.
Group B: England, South Africa, the West Indies, and Scotland.
Group C: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Namibia.
Group D: Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Nepal.
Full schedule of the ICC U19 World Cup 2024:
Group A
19th January: Ireland vs USA at Bloemfontein
20th January: Bangladesh vs India at Bloemfontein
22 January: Bangladesh vs Ireland at Bloemfontein
25th January: India vs Ireland at Bloemfontein
26th January: Bangladesh vs USA at Bloemfontein
28th January: India vs USA at Bloemfontein
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Group B
19th January: South Africa vs West Indies at Potchefstroom
20th January: England vs Scotland at Potchefstroom
23 January: South Africa vs England at Potchefstroom
24th January: Scotland vs West Indies at Potchefstroom
26th January: England vs West Indies at Potchefstroom
27 January: South Africa vs Scotland at Potchefstroom
Group C
21st January: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe at Kimberley
22 January: Australia vs Namibia at Kimberley
24 January: Namibia vs Sri Lanka at Kimberley
25th January: Australia vs Zimbabwe at Kimberley
27th January: Namibia vs Zimbabwe at Kimberley
28 January: Australia vs Sri Lanka at Kimberley
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Group D
20 January: Afghanistan vs Pakistan at East London
21st January: Nepal vs New Zealand at East London
23 January: Afghanistan vs New Zealand at East London
24 January: Nepal vs Pakistan at East London
27 January: Afghanistan vs Nepal at East London
27 January: New Zealand vs Pakistan at East London
All matches are scheduled to commence at 10:00 A.M local time (1:30 P.M IST) (8:00 A.M GMT).
Uday Saharan, the captain of the Indian team, is backed by a group of talented players for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2024.
For those in India, the Star Sports Network will broadcast the matches live, while live streaming options are available on the Disney+Hotstar app and website. This ensures that cricket enthusiasts can follow the action and witness the emergence of promising young talent in this prestigious tournament.
Key Dates of U19 World Cup 2024
The inaugural day of Group A and Group B matches on January 19 kicks off with a clash between Ireland and the USA in Bloemfontein, while the hosts take on the West Indies in Potchefstroom.
Moving on to Group D, the opening encounter between Afghanistan and Pakistan unfolds on January 20 in East London. Group C, stationed in Kimberley, initiates its proceedings on January 21 with a match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
The tournament’s focus then shifts to the Super Six stage, starting on January 30. This stage combines the top three teams from Groups A and D with the top three from Groups B and C. Each team plays two matches during this phase, strategically avoiding the team that finished in the corresponding position in the other group. For instance, the top finisher in Group A competes against the second and third teams in Group D.
The semi-finals are scheduled to commence on February 6, with the final set to take place on February 11. Both the semi-finals and the final will unfold at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, adding an extra layer of excitement as the tournament culminates in a quest for the coveted U-19 Cricket World Cup trophy.
