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India, the reigning champions of the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, will start their journey to defend their title against Bangladesh in the 2024 edition of the tournament. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the tournament will take place from January 13 to February 4.
The India vs. Bangladesh clash in the 2024 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is scheduled for January 14 at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, just a day after the host nation, Sri Lanka, faces Zimbabwe on January 13.
The opening day of the tournament will also witness the 2022 runners-up, England, playing against Scotland at the Colombo Cricket Club, while New Zealand will take on Nepal at the P. Sara Oval. India finds itself in Group A alongside Bangladesh, Ireland, and the USA.
Group B comprises England, South Africa, West Indies, and Scotland. Group C features Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, while Group D is composed of Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Nepal.
India holds the record as the most successful team in the competition, boasting five U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup titles. Australia has won the tournament thrice, while Pakistan has emerged victorious twice. England, Bangladesh, South Africa, and West Indies have each clinched the title once.
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The ICC has introduced a new format for the tournament, where teams progressing from the group stages will enter a Super Six stage, beginning on January 24. In this revised format, two groups of six teams will compete to determine the semi-finalists and eventual finalists.
The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup has a rich history of showcasing future cricket stars to the global audience. Notable players like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Angelo Mathews made their mark in international cricket after featuring in this event.
The upcoming tournament will return to Sri Lanka for the first time since 2006, promising a festival of cricket with abundant entertainment. The ICC is proud to offer fans the opportunity to witness the action for free, as stated by Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events.
Sixteen teams, including the winning teams from qualification pathways such as Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Scotland, and the USA, are set to compete in 41 matches across five venues in Colombo.
The tournament venues include P. Sara Oval, Colombo Cricket Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Singhalese Sports Club, and the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, which will host both semi-finals on January 30 and February 1, followed by the final on February 4.
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Before the competition officially begins, each participating team will play two warm-up matches from January 7 to January 11, spread across four of the five tournament venues. Sri Lanka, as the host nation, aims to surpass its previous best finish, when it was the runner-up to India in the 2000 final.
Samantha Dodanwela, Tournament Director, expressed delight in welcoming this prestigious event back to Sri Lanka after an 18-year gap. Sri Lanka’s passionate cricket-loving fans will have the opportunity to witness promising young cricketers from around the world in action over 23 days of intense competition.
Dodanwela also highlighted the historical significance of the chosen venues, which have witnessed the emergence of many exceptionally talented cricketers over the years. This event is expected to showcase Sri Lanka as an ideal destination for cricket on the global stage.