Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2024: A Quick Look Ahead
The countdown is on! The ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2024 kicks off on January 19, 2024. This exciting event is moving from Sri Lanka to South Africa. Cricket fans can’t wait for a month filled with thrilling matches and fresh talent. So, let’s dive into what you can expect from this big tournament!
Tournament Overview
From January 19 to February 11, the Men’s Under-19 World Cup will feature games in five key spots in South Africa. These places are Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, Benoni, Kimberley, and East London. The semi-finals & finals will be at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. It’s sure to be an exciting finish!
Change of Host
Originally, Sri Lanka was set to host the event. But things changed when the ICC suspended Sri Lanka Cricket in November 2023 due to major government involvement. This will be South Africa’s third time hosting the Under-19 World Cup; they did it in 1998 & 2020.
Tournament Format
The U-19 World Cup has a new format this time around—similar to the one used in the 2023 U-19 Women’s World Cup. Sixteen teams will break into four groups of four. The top three teams from each group will move on to the Super Sixes stage, split into two groups of six. The best two from each Super Six group will go to the semi-finals; those finishing fourth will play in playoffs for positions 13th to 16th.
Qualification & Teams
Sri Lanka keeps its spot as host; other Full Member nations from the last tournament automatically qualify. The last five spots were filled through regional qualifiers:
- New Zealand came through East Asia Pacific qualifying.
- Namibia was the top team in Africa.
- Nepal took the Asia spot by winning their qualifiers.
- Scotland led the way in Europe.
- USA won their Americas qualifier.
Key Players to Watch
A number of players are expected to shine:
- Arshin Kulkarni (India): He’s a seam-bowling allrounder with powerful batting & bowling skills.
- Rahman Hekmat (New Zealand): A leg spinner inspired by legends Shane Warne & Rashid Khan.
- Ubaid Shah (Pakistan): He’s Naseem Shah’s younger brother!
- Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar (Afghanistan): A rising star with big potential.
- Luc Benkenstein (England): Son of former South African player Dale Benkenstein.
Family Connections and Notable Mentions
The tournament has some fun family ties:
- Ubaid Shah and his brother Naseem Shah from Pakistan.
- Mohammad Nabi’s son & Rashid Khan’s nephew representing Afghanistan.
- Luc Benkenstein is Dale Benkenstein’s son.
- Musheer Khan, brother of India’s Sarfaraz Khan, will also be playing.
Defending Champions & Historical Context
India is looking to defend their title from 2022 and grab a sixth championship—making them the most successful team ever in this tournament! Other winners include Australia (3 times), Pakistan (2 times), plus one-time champions like Bangladesh, South Africa, West Indies, and England.
Technology & Umpiring
Every game will feature a TV umpire, but no Decision Review System (DRS) will be there. This brings back traditional game elements focusing more on skill and real-time decisions by umpires on the field.
The Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2024 is all set for an amazing showcase of young cricket talent! With a fresh format, lots of promising players, & interesting family roles, this tournament is sure to grab cricket fans’ attention worldwide. As teams gear up for playtime, get excited about seeing future cricket stars making their names known!