India to start U-19 WC campaign against BD

FE Team | Published: December 11, 2023 23:46:52

Defending champions India will start their title defence in the 2024 U-19 World Cup by taking on Bangladesh, the 2020 champions, reports Cricbuzz.
The tournament, which had to be shifted from Sri Lanka to South Africa, will be played from January 19 onwards. The final will take place in Benoni on February 11. Tournament hosts South Africa will feature on the opening day of the tournament as they take on West Indies while the inaugural game is set to be between Ireland and West Indies.
The tournament format sees the 16 teams split into four groups with the top three teams of each group progressing to the next stage. However, unlike previous editions the progression to the knockouts is a hybrid model. Firstly, the 12 teams that progress are then bunched into two groups of six apiece with the Super Six stage coming into play. Thereafter, the top two teams from each group shall make it to the semifinals.
After a 22-year gap between the previous two U19 editions held in South Africa, it has taken only four years for the country to return as the hosting venue for the showpiece event featuring cricket's prodigies. ICC's Head of Events Chris Tetley lauded South Africa's increasing caliber as a host to world class tournaments.