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U19 Cricket World Cup

ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024 Ultimate Guide: Everything you need to know

The ICC Under 19 Men's Cricket World Cup is all set to kick off on 19 January 2024, with a double header pitting hosts South Africa against the West Indies and Ireland taking on the USA.

The 15th edition of the tournament will feature the rising stars of 16 countries battling it out in 41 matches, with five venues featuring the future of the international game.

Ahead of the tournament, here's everything you need to know about the World Cup.

The Groups

Group A - Bangladesh, India, Ireland, USA

Group B - England, Scotland, South Africa, West Indies

Group C - Australia, Namibia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe

Group D - Afghanistan, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan

Squads

Format

The event will welcome a new format for this edition, where the three teams progressing from each of the four groups will enter a new Super Six stage, starting 30 January.

Two groups of six teams will clash to determine the Semi-Finalists and the subsequent Finalists.

The bottom-placed teams will then meet in placement games to determine finishing positions 13 to 16.

It will be the third time that South Africa has hosted the Under 19 World Cup - after previous editions in 1998 and 2020.

All teams will play two warm-up fixtures in South Africa between January 13-17.

Icc u19 men's cricket

Key Dates

Group A and Group B action begins on the 19 January opening day, with Ireland meeting the USA in Bloemfontein, and the hosts meeting the West Indies in Potchefstroom.

Group D’s opening match (Afghanistan v Pakistan) will be played out on 20 January in East London, while Group C, based in Kimberley, begins on 21 January. Sri Lanka meet Zimbabwe to open group action.

Attention then turns to the Super Six stage from 30 January, with the top three teams from Groups A and D put together with the top three of Groups B and D. The teams play two matches in this phase, and avoid the team that finished in the corresponding position in the other group. For example, the top finisher in Group A play the second and third teams in Group D.

Semi-finals begin on 6 February, with the final on 11 February. Both semi-finals and the final will be held at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

Tournament History

Year

Host(s)

Winner

Runner-up

Player of the Tournament

1988

Australia

Australia

Pakistan

-

1998

South Africa

England

New Zealand

-

2000

Sri Lanka

India

Sri Lanka

Yuvraj Singh

2002

New Zealand

Australia

South Africa

Tatenda Taibu

2004

Bangladesh

Pakistan

West Indies

Shikhar Dhawan

2006

Sri Lanka

Pakistan

India

Cheteshwar Pujara

2008

Malaysia

India

South Africa

Tim Southee

2010

New Zealand

Australia

Pakistan

Dominic Hendricks

2012

Australia

India

Australia

Will Bosisto

2014

UAE

South Africa

Pakistan

Aiden Markram

2016

Bangladesh

West Indies

India

Mehedi Hasan

2018

New Zealand

India

Australia

Shubman Gill

2020

South Africa

Bangladesh

India

Yashasvi Jaiswal

2022

West Indies

India

England

Dewald Brevis

The tournament was first contested in 1988 and was then known as the Youth Cricket World Cup. The hosts, Australia won the tournament on that occasion, beating Pakistan by five wickets. The next edition was held after a gap of 10 years in South Africa. England were the champions on this occasion.

The defending champions, India have been the most successful side in the tournament, with five titles to their name. Australia are the next best with three titles. Pakistan have won it twice, doing so in 2004 and 2006, while Bangladesh, England, South Africa and West Indies have all won it once.

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