Former champions India were on Monday handed a relatively easy draw in the ICC Under-19 cricket World Cup and will open their campaign against the West Indies on August 12.
India has been clubbed with Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea besides the West Indies in Group C, and will play their first match at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville, Queensland.
India has reached the zenith of glory at this tournament twice — Mohammad Kaif put his hands on the glittering trophy in Sri Lanka in 2000 and then Virat Kohli led the team to a well-deserved triumph in Malaysia in 2008.
India will play their second match, against Zimbabwe on August 14 at the same venue, two days before taking on Papua New Guinea at Endeavour Park 1.
Defending champions Australia will aim to match Pakistan’s achievement when they launch the defence of the title against traditional rival England on the opening day of the 16-day tournament on August 11.
Together with Australia and England, also in action in Townsville on the opening day will be Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea, who will face each other at Endeavour Park 1, while four Asian rivals will go head to head in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast with Sri Lanka meeting Bangladesh at the Allan Border Field and Pakistan taking on Afghanistan at the John Blanck Oval.
Australia is the most successful team in the history of the Under-19 cricket World Cup, having won the title thrice — in 1988, 2002 and 2010. However, Pakistan is the only side, which has won back-to-back titles when it won the top laurels in 2004 and 2006 in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, respectively.
“In 1988 the event was staged as part of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations and it is now one of our focal tournaments providing the best young cricketers in the world with an opportunity to test their skills,” ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said.
