Cape Town, The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a revised schedule for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024. Originally planned for Sri Lanka, the tournament will now take place across five venues in South Africa from January 19 to February 11. This change marks a significant shift in the location and timing of one of cricket’s most anticipated youth events.
According to International Cricket Council, The decision to move the event to South Africa was made by the ICC Board in November. The tournament, celebrating its 15th edition, will showcase the world’s most promising young cricket talents across 41 matches. These matches will be held at well-known international venues, including the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Buffalo Park in East London, Kimberley Oval in Kimberley, JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, and Willowmoore Park in Benoni. Willowmoore Park is set to host the crucial Semi-Finals on February 6 and 8, and the Final on February 11.
The host nation, South Africa, will commence its campaign against the West Indies in Potchefstroom on the opening day. Defending champions India will face 2020 champions Bangladesh the following day, in a highly anticipated clash. This match-up is significant as Bangladesh had previously won the tournament when it was last held in South Africa in 2020.
A new format introduced for this edition will see the teams advancing from the group stages enter a Super Six stage beginning January 30. This stage will consist of two groups of six teams each, competing to determine the Semi-Finalists and ultimately the Finalists. The group stage features notable matchups with holders India placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, Ireland, and the USA. Group B includes England, South Africa, the West Indies, and Scotland. Group C comprises Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, while Group D features Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Nepal.
Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events, emphasized the significance of relocating the event to South Africa, building on the country’s recent success in hosting major cricket tournaments. He highlighted the tournament’s tradition of introducing new stars to the international stage and the opportunity for fans to witness these players in action for free.
Tournament Director Wanele Mngomezulu expressed Cricket South Africa’s gratitude for the ICC’s confidence in their ability to stage international events, especially with the tight timelines. He noted that hosting the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup aligns with South Africa’s strategic pillars of excellence, access, and inclusion and serves as preparation for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
In preparation for the tournament, each team will participate in two warm-up matches in Johannesburg and Pretoria between January 13 and 17. The U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup has historically been a launching pad for future cricket stars, with South Africa seeking their second U19 trophy since their win in 2014.
India holds the record with five U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup titles, followed by Australia with three, and Pakistan with two. England, Bangladesh, the West Indies, and the hosts South Africa have each won the tournament once.
The full schedule for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 is available for download from the ICC’s Online Media Zone.