Get ready to experience a whole new cricketing extravaganza as the much-awaited ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 is all set to kickstart from 19th January. The marquee event will be hosted across five venues in South Africa from 19th January to 11th February. Initially, the 15th edition of the tournament was going to be held in Sri Lanka but ICC took last minute decision of relocating the venue from Sri Lanka to South Africa.
Coming to the tournament young talented cricketers who are the future of Cricket will compete for the coveted trophy. 41 fixtures will be played across five venues shortlisted for the mega event. Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Buffalo Park in East London, Kimberley Oval in Kimberley, JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom and finally Willowmoore Park in Benoni are the venues that will host the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024. Willowmoore Park in Benoni will host the semi-finals on 6 and 8 February, and the Final on 11 February.
A New Format Unveiled for ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024
ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 will be hosted in a new format where the teams qualifying for the group stage fixtures will enter the Super Six stage. The top three teams from each group will progress to the Super Six stage ahead of the semi-finals & finals.
Let’s have a look at the groups for the marquee event
Group A: India, Bangladesh, Ireland, USA
Group B: England, South Africa, West Indies, Scotland
Group C: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Namibia
Group D: Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, Nepal
The revised schedule will see South Africa kick-start their ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 campaign against West Indies in Potchefstroom on the opening day of the tournament. On the other hand, India will begin their title defense on 20th January against former Champions Bangladesh. This will be the third time that ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 will be hosted in South Africa. The 1998 & 2020 editions of the tournament were hosted in South Africa.
Ahead of the marquee event, each team will play two warm-up matches beginning from 13 January to 17 January in Johannesburg & Pretoria.
ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2023 schedule
Why ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 moved from Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka Cricket was suspended by the ICC for breaching its obligations as a member. They had failed to manage their affairs autonomously without government interference. And after the board meeting, it was decided that Sri Lanka can participate in both ICC & bilateral events but their funding will be controlled by the ICC. Thus the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 has been moved to the same country that hosted the Women’s U19 T20 World Cup earlier this year.
What is the ICC Head of Cricket’s take on the New Venue?
The ICC head of events, Chris Tetley said that in the past 12 months, South Africa has successfully hosted two ICC events i.e. the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup last year, and the groundbreaking ICC Women’s T20 World Cup that immediately followed. So they are perfect to host the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024.
He further said that the relocation of the marquee event to South Africa will allow them an opportunity to build on this momentum & witness young talented cricketers deliver outstanding performances on five international venues.
The Tournament Director, Wanele Mngomezulu said that South Africa is humbled by ICC’s confidence in Africa’s ability to host International events such as the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. He further said that though the task of hosting the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 has very tight timelines they are delighted to take up this challenge. He further highlighted that hosting this event will allow them to sharpen their skills & capabilities in the run-up to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 which will be held in South Africa.
“Hosting the tournament on home soil is opportune for us to promote cricket to sport-loving South Africans and attract new fans and young talent to the game, thereby driving our strategic pillars of excellence, access, and inclusion, Mngomezulu added to his statement.
The hosts will hope to claim their second U29 trophy as they won their first trophy in 2014. It was in the 2014 edition of the U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 that stars like Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada rose to prominence.
Top Teams in U19 Cricket World Cup History
India is the most successful team in ICC U19 Cricket World Cup history with five titles in their kitty. Australia has won the event three times, Pakistan twice, while England, Bangladesh, West Indies and 2024 hosts South Africa have each been crowned once.
ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 Squads
Group A
India:
Adarsh Singh, Rudra Mayur Patel, Arshin Kulkarni, Sachin Dhas, Priyanshu Moliya, Uday Saharan (C), Aravelly Avanish Rao (WK), Saumy Kumar Pandey (VC), Musheer Khan, Murugan Abhishek, Dhanush Gowda, Aaradhya Shukla, Raj Limbani, Innesh Mahajan (WK), and Naman Tiwari
Bangladesh: Yet to announce
Ireland:
Macdara Cosgrave, Harry Dyer, Philippe le Roux (c), Daniel Forkin, Kian Hilton, Ryan Hunter, Finn Lutton, Carson McCullough, John McNally, Scott Macbeth, Jordan Neill, Oliver Riley, Gavin Roulston, Reuben Wilson, Matthew Weldon.
Non-Travelling Reserves: Hayden Melly, Adam Leckey, James West
USA: Yet to announce
Group B
England:
Luc Benkenstein (vc), Farhan Ahmed, Ben McKinney (c), Tazeem Ali, Charlie Allison, Charlie Barnard, Jaydn Denly, Eddie Jack, Dominic Kelly, Jack Carney, Sebastian Morgan, Haydon Mustard, Hamza Shaikh, Noah Thain, and Theo Wylie
South Africa:
Esosa Aihevba, Juan James, David Teeger (c), Martin Khumalo, Kwena Maphaka, Dewan Marias, Riley Norton, Romashan Pillay, Sipho Potsane, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Nqobani Mokoena, Richard Seletswane, Oliver Whitehead, Steve Stolk, and Ntando Zuma
West Indies: Yet to announce
Scotland: Yet to announce
Group C
Australia:
Charlie Anderson, Harkirat Bajwa, Lachlan Aitken, Mahli Beardman, Harry Dixon, Ryan Hicks, Sam Konstas, Rafael MacMillan, Tom Campbell, Aidan O’Connor, Harjas Singh, Tom Straker, Callum Vidler, Corey Wasley, Hugh Weibgen
Sri Lanka: Yet to announce
Zimbabwe: Yet to announce
Namibia:
Gerhard Janse van Rensburg, Alex Volschenk (c), Hansie de Villiers, JW Visagie, Ben Brassell, Henry van Wyk, Zacheo van Vuuren, Jack Brassell, Nico Pieters, Faf du Plessis, Woutie Niehaus, PD Blignaut, Junior Kariata, Ryan Moffett, Hanro Badenhorst.
Group D
Afghanistan: Yet to announce
Pakistan: Yet to announce
New Zealand:
Mason Clarke, Sam Clode, Zac Cumming, Oscar Jackson (c), Rahman Hekmat, Tom Jones, James Nelson, Matt Rowe, Ewald Schreuder, Lachlan Stackpole, Snehith Reddy, Oliver Tewatiya, Alex Thompson, Luke Watson. Reserves: Ben Breitmeyer, Ryan Tsourgas, Nick Brown, Henry Christie, Robbie Foulkes, Josh Oliver, Amogh Paranjpe.
Nepal: Yet to announce
Our Final Take
The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 is going to be a blockbuster event with 16 teams battling for the prestigious trophy. India & South Africa will be favorites to win the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. While India will be bolstered with their five title wins, South Africa will try to maximize their home advantage & lift their second title in the upcoming edition. Which team will be able to succeed in their motive is what will be known when the action gets unveiled on the pitch.
Also read, IPL 2024: Delhi Capitals wanted to trade in Rohit Sharma
