When does the 2024 Under-19 Men's World Cup begin?
The tournament starts on January 19, with USA taking on Ireland, and South Africa facing West Indies. The final is scheduled for February 11.
Where's it being played?
South Africa are the hosts, and the games are in Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, Benoni, Kimberley and East London. The semi-finals and the final will all be played in Benoni.
Hold on, weren't Sri Lanka supposed to be hosts?
Indeed. This edition of the Under-19 World Cup was supposed to be played in Sri Lanka. But that was until the ICC suspended Sri Lanka Cricket in November because of extensive government interference in the board's administration. This led to the biennial tournament being moved to South Africa, making them hosts for the third time - after 1998 and 2020.
Is the format going to be the same as in the previous edition?
Not quite. There's been a tweak in the format this time; the competition will follow the format used in last year's Under-19 Women's World Cup. The 16 teams will be divided into groups of four each, with the top three from each group qualifying for the Super Sixes stage, where the 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
However, even for the four teams that get eliminated in the group stage, it won't be the end of the tournament. The players will get crucial playing time through playoffs to decide the positions from 13th through to 16th.
How did the teams qualify?
Sri Lanka retained host qualification rights even though the tournament was moved to South Africa, and the other Full Member nations that participated in the 2022 edition also got automatic qualification. The other five teams made it through the regional qualifiers.
New Zealand, who had opted out of the previous edition due to Covid-19 quarantine protocols for minors, progressed from the East Asia Pacific qualifiers. Namibia won the Africa qualifiers, while Nepal emerged on top in Asia. Scotland won the European qualifiers, while USA topped the Americas qualifying group.
Any teams playing the World Cup for the first time?
Nope. All teams participating this year have qualified for previous editions of the Under-19 World Cup. USA are the most inexperienced team, with this being their third appearance at the U-19 World Cup.
Who are some players to look out for?
There's India's seam-bowling allrounder Arshin Kulkarni, who opens the batting. New Zealand's Rahman Hekmat is a legspinner of Afghan origin inspired by Shane Warne and of course Rashid Khan. Pakistan's Ubaid Shah, Afghanistan's Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and England's Luc Benkenstein are just a few of the other names who may shine in the tournament.
Ubaid Shah? That surname sounds familiar.
Well, that's because Ubaid is the brother of Pakistan international Naseem Shah. And that's not the only familiar name in the competition!
Mohammad Nabi's son and Rashid Khan's nephew will be teaming up for Afghanistan, while Luc is the son of former South Africa batter Dale Benkenstein. Sarfaraz Khan, who had starred in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup for India, will have his brother Musheer in action this year. These are just a few of the many family connections at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup.
Who are the defending champions?
India won the tournament held in 2022 under Yash Dhull's captaincy by beating England in the final. India are also the most successful team in the competition's history, winning it five times - in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022.
Who else has won the tournament?
Australia have won the title three times - in 1988, 2002 and 2010 - while Pakistan have clinched it twice, in 2004 and 2006. Bangladesh (2020), South Africa (2014), West Indies (2016) and England (1998) have won the tournament once each.
Finally, will the matches this time have DRS?
While there will be a TV umpire for every game, DRS will not be available in the tournament.