U-19 World Cup
U-19 World cup moved to South Africa from Sri Lanka
|| CF DESK ||
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to move the Under-19 World Cup to South Africa from Sri Lanka.
The decision has been taken by the ICC board in view of the administrative uncertainty in Sri Lanka cricket. ICC Board met today and confirmed the terms of the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
After hearing representation from SLC, the ICC Board decided that Sri Lanka can continue to compete internationally both in bilateral cricket and ICC events after being suspended recently for breaching its obligations as a Member in particular the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and without government interference.
However, funding to SLC will be controlled by the ICC and the ICC Board confirmed Sri Lanka will no longer host the U19 World Cup 2024, which will now be held in South Africa.
India will begin its Under-19 World Cup campaign against Bangladesh on January 14, and the reigning champion, who won the 2022 edition in the West Indies, will look to defend the title in a format that has been tweaked from the previous edition.
Bangladesh is placed in group A along with India, Ireland, and the USA, while Group B comprises England, South Africa, the West Indies, and Scotland.
Host Sri Lanka has been clubbed alongside Australia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in Group C.
Group D comprises Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Nepal.