Bangladesh face India in first hurdle

Five-time champions India will commence their 2024 ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup campaign against 2020 winners Bangladesh in Bloemfontein, while hosts South Africa take on the West Indies in the tournament opener on January 19.

The ICC released the schedule for the 16-team event on Monday, with five venues across South Africa to host a total of 41 matches over more than three weeks in January and February in the 15th edition of the Under 19 showcase.

India prevailed in the last edition of the tournament in the West Indies in 2022 and are placed in Group A with Bangladesh, Ireland and the USA as they attempt to claim a record sixth Under 19 title.

Group B consists of England, South Africa, West Indies and Scotland. Group C features Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Namibia, while Group D is made up of Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Nepal.

PHOTO: ICC

The top three sides from each group progress to the Super Six phase of the event ahead of the semi-finals and final in Benoni.

It will be the third time that South Africa has hosted the Under 19 World Cup - after previous editions in 1998 and 2020 - and ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley believes the country is well placed to build on the success of holding two recent tournaments over the last year.

"In the past 12 months we have seen South Africa successfully deliver two milestone events for the sport - the inaugural ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup last year, and the groundbreaking ICC Women's T20 World Cup that immediately followed," Tetley said.

"The relocation of the U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024 to South Africa allows us the opportunity to build on this momentum and welcome the best young cricketers on the planet to five notable international venues."

All teams will play two warm-up fixtures in South Africa between January 13-17.

ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup Groups:

Group A: India, Bangladesh, Ireland, USA
Group B: England, South Africa, West Indies, Scotland
Group C: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Namibia
Group D: Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, Nepal