Thirty days remain till the 15th edition of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup kicks off in South Africa on January 19. The anticipation is already strong.
The event, which spans 24 days and features young, up-and-coming talent from 16 countries, is expected to thrill cricket fans worldwide and find the game’s future superstars.
There will be five locations in South Africa where a total of 41 matches will be played. Many well-known cricketing nations will be competing in this tournament, including the current ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup holders Australia and New Zealand, who will be making a comeback after missing the most recent edition in the West Indies in 2022, and five-time winners and defending champions India.
The course
Direct qualification for the South Africa tournament was granted to the eleven complete member nations that participated in the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022.
These teams included the 2014 winners, South Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh (2020), England (1998), India (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022), Ireland, Pakistan (2004, 2006), Sri Lanka, the West Indies (2016), and Zimbabwe.
The five remaining berths were awarded to the teams that advanced through their individual regional qualification competitions.
With nine points at the top of the table, Namibia enjoyed an almost flawless run in the Africa Qualifier, defeating the next-best Kenya team by a comfortable seven-wicket margin.
The United States started the game by easily defeating Bermuda. In the second game, nevertheless, they lost to Canada quite narrowly. They then got back up and won handily, including a seven-wicket victory over Canada in their rematch for the Americas Qualifier. They won the match and secured their first appearance at an ICC U19 Men’s CWC since 2010 thanks to this large net run-rate advantage.
Nepal’s incredible comeback victory over the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Qualifier, which secured them a trip to South Africa, proved to be the deciding factor.
Lacking a spot in the 2022 showcase, New Zealand dominated the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, winning every game with gusto.
Scotland qualified for their third consecutive appearance at the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup after going through the Europe Qualifiers undefeated, winning their last match with ease over a resurgent Italy.
Same excitement, new format
The format of the 2018 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup will differ from the Plate and Super League formats used in earlier competitions.
Just like in the previous edition, the competition keeps the same 16 teams and splits them into four groups of four teams each. But from this point on, things get really fascinating. Unlike eight teams in the previous season, up to 12 teams will still be fighting for the top spot after the first round.
The top three teams from each group advance to the following round. The top three teams from groups B and C will also be combined with the top teams from groups A and D in what is called the Super Six stage. When they play other Super Six qualifying teams from their respective groups, they will carry over their points and net run rate.
Each team will have two encounters in this scenario. These teams will play those from the same group that were placed differently at the end of the group stage. The two teams that place highest after these group stages advance to the knockout phases, which include the semi-finals and final, which take place on February 11 in Benoni.
Unique chance for title defense
Yash Dhull’s India enjoyed a perfect run in the 2022 competition, and they won another title thanks to Ravi Kumar and Raj Bawa holding off a fierce England effort in the final.
Even though the tournament’s age restriction essentially guarantees that a new group of players will emerge with each new edition, India has nevertheless managed to win three of the previous six events.
The fact that the team has produced players of the highest caliber and has advanced to every U19 Men’s CWC final since 2016 is evidence of their effective youth structure.
The team has never, however, quite succeeded in winning the World Cup twice in a row. Only Pakistan, which triumphed in 2004 and 2006, is deserving of this prestigious title.
The 2024 edition offers the youthful Blues the opportunity to not only claim their sixth championship but also make history by becoming the first to successfully defend it since 2006.
Will home advantage motivate the hosts?
South Africa will want to make full use of their home advantage as hosts. With skipper Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada leading them to victory, the class of 2014 is the team the youthful Proteas are aiming to defeat for the first time.
The West Indies, the 2016 Champions, will be the team’s first opponent on January 19. Then, on January 23, David Teeger’s team will play England, the 2022 finalists, and on January 27, Scotland, in their last group match.
Markram, a 2014 Player of the Tournament winner, is proof of the platform the competition offers up-and-coming international talent. He currently coaches the senior South African team. In yesterday’s Supersport interview, he was brimming with praise for the youthful Proteas.
Prior to South Africa’s ODI victory over India in Gqeberha, Markram uttered the words, “First and foremost, all the very best from all of us who are a part of the Proteas family.”
“Competing for your nation in a World Cup is an amazing experience. We just want to wish them the very best of luck as it’s a fantastic privilege.
India
