Welcome to the eleventh edition of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup to be held in Bangladesh later this month for the second time after the successful show in the year 2004.

The ICC U19 CWC is a platform for future stars of the game to make their mark and be recognized for their feats world over.

Many legends and current players came out of this event. It is the showcase for future stars to demonstrate their potential early, and pave the way to international cricket with time.

Players like Sanath Jayasuriya, Inzamam ul-Haq, Brian Lara, Graeme Smith, Michael Clarke, Alastair Cook, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson once donned the U19 colours of their country and showed why they would become household names in cricket for a very long time.

Check out all the interesting facts of this year’s ICC U19 CWC in Bangladesh. Let us all make this gala event a resounding success!

-The 11th edition of the ICC Under19 Cricket World Cup 2016 will be a 19-day event from 27 January to 14 February

-9 Full Member and 7 Associate Nations are to participate in the eleventh edition of this limited-over cricket tournament

-This edition of the tournament will not feature Australia as they withdrew their name on ‘security concerns’

-The World Cup will be held across eight venues in four cities of Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar)

-During the 19-day tournament, 48 matches will be played

-All the matches of the tournament will be day fixtures, starting form 0900 BST (Bangladesh Standard Time) and only the Super League Semi-Finals & Final will have reserve days

-Teams have announced their squads and as many as 18 players will be playing their second consecutive U19 World Cup

-The event will kick off on January 27 with the matches between England and Fiji, Bangladesh and South Africa

-South Africa are the reigning U19 champions

-Australia and India were champions thrice, while Pakistan is the only country till date to win the title in consecutive occasions

-Bangladesh have retained five players from their 2014 U19 CWC Team, including reinstated Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz

-Afghanistan, India, Namibia have retained four, three and two players respectively from the previous tournament. Canada, New Zealand, West Indies and Scotland have retained one player each

-Defending Champions South Africa, England, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will be featuring with fresh faces

-Ireland and Nepal return to the main event after missing out in 2014

-Ireland responded to ICC’s invitation after Australia withdrew their name from the tournament

-Venues: Sher-e-Bangladesh National Cricket Stadium-Mirpur, Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium-Fatullah, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium-Chittagong, MA Aziz Stadium-Chittagong, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium-Sylhet, Sylhet District Stadium-Sylhet, Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium (Main)-Cox’s Bazar, Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium (Academy)-Cox’s Bazar

-Format: 16 teams have been divided into four groups with the top two teams progressing to the Super League quarter-finals while the two bottom teams from each group qualify for the Plate Championship quarter-finals

-Group A: South Africa, Bangladesh, Scotland and Namibia

-Group B: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Canada

-Group C: England, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Fiji

-Group D: Ireland, India, New Zealand and Nepal

The South African U19 cricket world team parade their World Cup trophy on Day 3 of the third Test match between South Africa and Australia at Newlands on March 3, 2014. Photo: AFP

Squads

GROUP A
South Africa - Tony de Zorzi (capt.), Ziyaad Abrahams, Dean Foxcroft, Dayyaan Galiem, Willie Ludick, Wandile Makwethu, Conner McKerr, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Wiaan Mulder, Luke Philander, Farhaan Sayanvala, Lutho Sipamla, Liam Smith, Kyle Verreynne and Sean Whitehead.
Coach - Laurence Mahatlane

Bangladesh – Mehidy Hassan Miraz (capt.), Jaker Ali Anik,, Saleh Ahmed Shawon Gazi, Mohammed Saif Hassan, Zakir Hasan, Shafiul Hayet, Mehede Hasan, Mohammad Abdul Halim, Joyraj Sheik Imon, Ariful Islam Jony, Sanjit Saha, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Saeed Sarker, Shaif Uddin,
Coach - Mohammad Mizanur Rahman

Scotland - Neil Flack (capt.), Haris Aslam, Ryan Brown, Scott Cameron, Harris Carnegie, Mohammad Azeem Dar, Mohammad Ghaffar, Rory Johnston, Ihtisham Malik, Finlay McCreath, Mitchell Rao, Owais Shah, Simon Whait, Jack Waller, Ben Wilkinson.
Coach - Gordon Drummond and Cedric English

Namibia – Zane Green (capt.), Petrus Burger, Charl Brits, Fritz Coetzee, Niko Davin, Sj Loftie-Eaton, Mushi Honga, Burton Jacobs, Lohan Louwrens, Jurgen Linde, Michael Van Lingen, Chrischen Oliver, Francios Rautenbach, Warren Van Wyk, Eben Van Wyk,
Coach - Rangarirai Manyande

GROUP B
Pakistan - Gohar Hafeez (capt.), Muhammad Asad, Saif Ali, Saif Badar, Sameen Gul, Salman Fayyaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Khan, Irfan Liaqat, Hasan Mohsin, Umair Masood, Zeeshan Malik, Arsal Sheikh, Ahmad Shafiq. Mohammad Umar,
Coach - Muhammad Masroor

Sri Lanka – Charith Asalanka (capt.), Sammu Ashan, Kaveen Bandara, Jehan Daniel, Avishka Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Wanidu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis, Charana Nanayakkara, Thilan Nimesh, Vishard Randika, Lahiru Samarakoon, Damitha Silva,
Coach - Roger Wijesuriya

Afghanistan – Ihsanullah Janat (capt.), Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar, Zahir Ahmadzai, Qais Hassan, Karim Janat, Ikram Ali Khail, Shamsurrahman Wali Khail, Zahir Khan, Muslim Musa, Nijat Masood, Parwiz Malikzai, Nasir Omar, Naveed Obaid, Waheed Shafaq, Tariq Stanikzai,
Coach - Dawlat Ahmadzai

Canada – Abraash Khan (capt.), Bhavindu Adhihetty, Thursaanth Anantharajah, Akash Gill, Abdul Haseeb, Wijayaraj, Suliman Khan, Arslan Khan, Mamik Luthra, Miraj Patel, Shlok Patel, Kurt Ramdath, Sarbot Sivia, Harsh Thaker, Amish Taploo, Prushoth
Coach - Errol Barro

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews (L), Australians David Warner (2nd-L) and Ryan Harris (R) and India's Virat Kohli (2nd-R), sit on stage during the announcement of the tournament schedule and format of the ICC U19 2012 Cricket World Cup (CWC), at the Gabba stadium in Brisbane on February 20, 2012. Photo: AFP

West Indies – Shimron Hetmyer (capt.), Shahid Crooks, Keacy Carty, Michael Frew, Jyd Goolie, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Ryan John, Kirstan Kallicharan, Obed McCoy, Gidron Pope, Keemo Paul, Odean Smith, Shamar Springer, Emmanuel Stewart,
Coach - Graeme West

Zimbabwe – Brandon Mavuta (capt.), Trevvor Chibvongodze, Jeremy Ives, Adam Keefe, Kundai Matigimu, William Mashinge, Wessly Madhevere, Rugare Magarira, Sydney Murombo, Ryan Murray, Richard Ngarava, Akshay Patel, Brendan Sly, Shaun Snyder, Milton Shumba,
Coach - Stephen Mangongo

Fiji – Saimoni Tuitoga (capt.), Josaia Baleicikoibia, Malakai Cokovaki, Petero Cabebula, Jack Charters, Jordan Dunham, Vaibhav Kapadia, Delaimatuku Maraiwai, Ledua Qionivoka, Samuel Saunokonoko, Cakacaka Tikoisuva, Peni Vuniwaqa, Sosiceni Weleilakeba, Tuwai Yabaki,
Coach - Shane Jurgensen

GROUP D
India - Ishan Kishan (capt.), , Rishabh Pant (vice-capt), Khaleel Ahmed, Zeeshan Ansari, Rahul Batham, Ricky Bhui, Mayank Dagar, Armaan Jaffer, Sarfaraz Khan, Amandeep Khare, Avesh Khan, Mahipal Lomror, Shubham Mavi, Anmolpreet Singh, Washington Sundar,
Coach – Rahul Dravid

New Zealand – Josh Finnie (capt.), Finnley Allen, Josh Clarkson, Zak Gibson, Christian Leopard, Felix Murray, Aniket Parikh, Dale Phillips, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Talor Scott, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Daniel Stanley, Ross ter Braak
Coach - Bob Carter

Nepal – Raju Rijal (capt.), Dipendra Airee, MD Sunil Dhamala, Himanshu Dutta, Saurabh Khanal, Sushil Kandel, Yogendra Karki, Sandeep Lamichhane, Ishan Pandey, Shankar Rana, Prem Tamang, Arif Sheikh, Sandeep Sunar, Dipesh Shrestha, Rajbir Singh,
Coach - Jagat Tamatta

Ireland - Jack Tector (capt.), Rory Anders, Andrew Austin, Varun Chopra, Adam Dennison, Stephen Doheny, Aaron Gillespie, Josh Little, Gary McClintock, William McClintock, Tom Stanton, Harry Tector, Fiachra Tucker, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.
Coach – Ryan Eagleson

All information taken from Bangladesh Cricket Board’s website