U19 Cricket World Cup Kicks Off in Zimbabwe and Namibia
Excitement Builds for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup
New Delhi, Jan 15: The chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Jay Shah, has conveyed his best wishes to the young cricketers as they embark on their World Cup journey in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The 16th edition of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup is set to commence on Thursday, featuring a match between India and the United States in Bulawayo.
Shah expressed on X, "I wish all teams and players the best of luck in the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup starting on January 15 in the host nations of Zimbabwe and Namibia. Our youth tournaments have historically been a stepping stone for many of cricket's greatest talents, and I am confident this will continue."
India, captained by Ayush Mhatre, is in Group B, competing against New Zealand, the USA, and Bangladesh. Vihaan Malhotra, a promising all-rounder, will assist Mhatre as vice-captain during the tournament.
Australia enters the tournament as the reigning champions, having secured the title in 2024 by defeating India in the final. They have won the championship four times, trailing India, which has claimed the trophy five times.
Pakistan is the only other nation with multiple titles, having won consecutively in 2004 and 2006. Other teams like West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh, and England have each won the tournament once.
The competition will unfold across five venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with Zimbabwe hosting 25 matches, including the semi-finals and finals, while Namibia will host 16 matches.
In Namibia, all matches will take place in Windhoek at the Namibia Cricket Ground and the High Performance Oval, which are adjacent to each other. In Zimbabwe, games will be held in Harare and Bulawayo, with the Queens Sports Club serving as the sole venue in Bulawayo, while Harare will feature matches at Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Sports Club.
The semi-finals are scheduled for February 3 and 4 at the Queens Sports Club and Harare Sports Club, with the final taking place at Harare Sports Club on February 6.