U19 World Cup 2020 | India drawn in group A alongside New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Japan
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With the Under-19 World Cup knocking at the door, the four groups of the 16-team event have been released, with defending champs India placed in group A alongside Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The tournament will be played between January 17 and February 9 2020 across eight venues in South Africa.
South Africa seems all set to host the 2020 U-19 World Cup as the four groups of the tournament were released today. The defending champions India are placed in group A, a relatively easy one, and have the likes of New Zealand, Sri Lnka and first timers Japan along with them.Â
The hosts are placed in group D along with UAE, Canada and Afghanistan. The 2014 champions, the Proteas will play in the inaugural match of the tournament against Afghanistan. Group B, most probably the toughest of the lot, boasts the likes of three-time champions Australia, West Indies, England and debutants Nigeria.Â
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Scotland make up group D, the fourth and last group of the 16-team tournament. At the end of the group stage, the top two teams will advance to the Super League, while the remaining eight teams will feature in the Plate championship.Â
First-timers Nigeria and Japan will be teams to look forward to as they try to make a mark in the tournament. The tournament features five regional champions, Nigeria (Africa), Japan (East Asia Pacific), Canada (Americas), United Arab Emirates (Asia) and Scotland (Europe), along with the 11 full-member nations who played the previous edition of the tournament in New Zealand.Â
"The U19 Cricket World Cup is a very important event in our calendar as it brings together the world's most promising young players in a major ICC tournament, giving them the experience of competing on the global stage," Cricbuzz quoted ICC head of events Chris Tetley as saying.
"We have some excellent venues for this tournament, and we are offering free entry to all matches giving cricket fans in South Africa the opportunity to watch the next generation of superstars. I wish all the teams the very best in their preparations for the tournament and to Cricket South Africa in organising the event."
