The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has announced a new host nation for the upcoming 15th edition of the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in 2024.
South Africa has been selected to host the prestigious event, replacing Sri Lanka, as confirmed in today’s ICC Board meeting.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) faced suspension from the ICC due to breaches of its membership obligations, particularly in failing to maintain autonomous management free from government interference.
While Sri Lanka retains its eligibility to participate in international cricket, both bilateral and ICC events, the ICC will now oversee the control of funding to SLC.
Consequently, the U19 Cricket World Cup has been relocated to South Africa, the same country that successfully hosted the Women’s U19 T20 World Cup earlier this year.
This upcoming tournament marks the 15th edition of the U19 men’s event, following India’s triumph in the West Indies in 2022. With 15 other teams competing, India, the defending champions, face a tough challenge in securing the coveted trophy.
A revised tournament format has been introduced, featuring a new Super Six stage following the Group stage to determine the semi-finalists. The 16 participating teams are divided into four groups, with Group A consisting of defending champions India, Bangladesh, Ireland, and USA.
Group B includes England, South Africa, West Indies, and Scotland. Group C comprises Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, while Group D features Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Nepal.
The tournament, set to kick off in January, will witness a total of 41 matches, culminating in the Final staged in February. As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the action, all eyes will be on the teams striving to make their mark in this highly anticipated U19 Cricket World Cup.
