The 12 edition of the Under-19 cricket World Cup gets underway in various venues in New Zealand starting on Saturday. The opening day of the 2018 edition – the third time New Zealand are hosting the tournament – features four games, with the hosts taking on defending champions West Indies.
The concept of such a tournament took shape 30 years ago, in Australia, when it was called the Youth World Cup. It returned after a ten-year break and from then on it has been referred to as the U-19 World Cup, held every two years.
Format
The 16 teams have been divided into four groups of four teams each. All teams in each group will play each other once. The top two from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals. The top four will qualify for the semi-finals. The final will be played on February 3 at Mount Maunganui.
Groups
Group A – Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies
Group B – Australia, India, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe
Group C – Bangladesh, Canada, England, Namibia
Group D – Afghanistan, Ireland, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Venues
Christchurch (Hagley Oval)
Lincoln (Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln No. 3)
Queenstown
Rangiora
Whangarei
Mount Maunganui
India’s fixtures
January 14 – vs Australia, Mount Maunganui (start time - 05.30 IST)
January 16 – vs Papua New Guinea, Mount Maunganui (06.30 IST)
January 19 – vs Zimbabwe, Mount Maunganui (06.30 IST)
Other important fixtures
January 23 – Quarter-final 1, Queenstown
January 24 – Quarter-final 2, Christchurch
January 25 – Quarter-final 3, Christchurch
January 26 – Quarter-final 4, Queenstown
January 29 – Semi-final 1, Christchurch
January 30 – Semi-final 2, Christchurch
February 3 – Final, Mount Maunganui (final has a reserve day)
Players to watch/Famous surnames
Prithvi Shaw (India)
Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
Jason Sangha (Australia)
Baheer Shah (Afghanistan)
Austin Waugh (son of Steve Waugh)
Thando Ntini (son of Makhaya Ntini)
Previous winners
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Where India finished |
| 1988 | Australia | Pakistan | 6th (out of 8) |
| 1998 | England | New Zealand | Super League |
| 2000 | India | Sri Lanka | NA |
| 2002 | Australia | South Africa | Semi-final |
| 2004 | Pakistan | West Indies | Semi-final |
| 2006 | Pakistan | India | NA |
| 2008 | India | South Africa | NA |
| 2010 | Australia | Pakistan | 6th |
| 2012 | India | Australia | NA |
| 2014 | South Africa | Pakistan | 5th |
| 2016 | West Indies | India | NA |
