Countdown begins as future stars gear up for U19 showdown

The 15th edition of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is set to begin on January 19 in South Africa, and with just 30 days to go, the excitement is already palpable.

Featuring young and upcoming talent from 16 nations, the tournament will excite fans the world over across 24 days, during the course of which cricket is sure to unearth the next generation of superstars. 

A total of 41 matches will be played across five venues in South Africa. This tournament will feature some prominent cricketing nations, including five-time winners and defending champions India, the reigning ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup holders Australia, and New Zealand, who’ll be making a comeback after missing out on the most recent edition in the West Indies in 2022.

The pathway

The 11 full member nations who featured in the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 earned direct qualification for the South Africa event.

These teams were South Africa (2014 champions), Australia (1988, 2002, 2010), Afghanistan, Bangladesh (2020), England (1998), India (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022), Ireland, Pakistan (2004, 2006), Sri Lanka, the West Indies (2016), and Zimbabwe.

For the five remaining spots, teams had to progress via their respective regional qualification tournaments.

Namibia had a near-perfect run in the Africa Qualifier, overcoming next-best Kenya by a comfortable margin of seven wickets, and topping the table with nine points to their name.

The United States started with a confident win against Bermuda. However, they suffered a close loss to Canada in the second game. They lifted themselves thereafter and churned out comprehensive wins, including a seven-wicket success over Canada in their Americas Qualifier rematch. This gave them a significant net run-rate advantage and helped them top the table, sealing their first appearance at an ICC U19 Men’s CWC since 2010.

A thrilling last-gasp win over the second-placed United Arab Emirates proved to be the difference for Nepal, whose unbeaten run in the Asia Qualifier helped them earn a ticket to South Africa.

New Zealand, absent from the 2022 showcase, bossed the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, winning all their games in style.

Scotland made it through the Europe Qualifier unbeaten, ending with a comfortable victory over an emerging Italy in their final match to book their third successive appearance at the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

New format, same thrill

The upcoming U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup will be a departure from the Plate and Super League format that had been a feature at the tournament in previous editions.

The competition retains the same number of teams (16) as in 2022 and divides them into four groups of four sides, as was the case in the last edition. Things, however, get more interesting from here. As many as 12 sides will remain in contention for the ultimate prize after the opening stage – unlike eight in the previous edition.

The top three sides from each group will qualify for the next phase. Here, the top teams from groups A and D will be clubbed together in what will be known as the Super Six stage, and likewise with the top three teams from groups B and C. They will carry forward their points and net run-rate achieved against fellow Super Six qualifying teams from their respective groups.

Here, each side will play two encounters. These will be against those teams from the corresponding group, who finished at different group stage positions. The top two sides from these groups will then qualify for the knockout stages, comprising the semi-finals and the final, to be held in Benoni on 11 February.

Rare title defence opportunity

In the 2022 edition of the tournament, Yash Dhull’s India had a flawless run, with Ravi Kumar and Raj Bawa holding off a spirited England performance in the final to help the side to another crown.

While the age-specific nature of the tournament mostly ensures that a set of fresh faces appears in each new edition, India has still managed to win three out of the last six tournaments.

In a testament to their efficient youth setup, the side has consistently produced high-calibre players and have appeared in every single final of the U19 Men’s CWC since 2016.

However, the side has never quite managed to lift the World Cup on back-to-back occasions. This prolific honour belongs only to Pakistan, who won in 2004 and 2006.

The 2024 edition presents the young Blues with a chance to not just win their sixth title, but also become the first since 2006 to successfully defend it.

Can home advantage spur the hosts?

As hosts, South Africa will seek to make the most of their home advantage. The young Proteas are hoping to win their first title since the class of 2014 stormed to the title, powered by captain Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada.

David Teeger’s side begin their campaign against the West Indies, the 2016 Champions, on 19 January, before taking on 2022 finalists England on 23 January and Scotland on 27 January for their final group fixture.

Markram, who won the Player of the Tournament accolade back in 2014, is a testament to the platform that the event provides young international stars, and now leads the senior South Africa side. He was full of encouragement for the young Proteas in an interview with Supersport yesterday.

“First and foremost, all the very best from all of us who are a part of the Proteas family,” Markram said ahead of South Africa’s ODI victory over India in Gqeberha.

“It’s an exciting time playing for your country in a World Cup. It’s a great privilege, and we just wish them all the very best of luck.”