Lahore: The National Men’s U19 three-day Championship and One-Day Cup are set to commence this Tuesday, involving eighteen teams across sixteen regions, competing in a total of 98 matches each over a period of 61 days. The tournaments are designed to showcase emerging cricket talents and provide a pathway to higher levels of competition, including international youth tournaments.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, “The teams are split into three groups, with matches scheduled on a single-league basis until October 12. The finals for the one-day and three-day formats are slated for October 22 and November 6-9, respectively, with venues to be announced later. Peshawar will be defending the three-day title, while Karachi Whites aim to retain their one-day championship crown.”

The championships will follow a rigorous schedule, with three-day games leading into one-day matches for each round. This format is intended to test the versatility and endurance of young cricketers. The selection of the squads was based on performances in the Regional Inter-District U19 Tournament held earlier this year, which featured 104 district teams.

The outcomes of these tournaments could significantly influence selection for the Pakistan U19 team, which will participate in the tri-nation 50-over series in UAE this November, followed by the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2024.