The International Cricket Council (ICC) has slotted India placed in Group B alongside debutants Uganda, South Africa, and Ireland for the ICC Under-19 men’s cricket World Cup 2022, slated to be held in West Indies from January 14 to February 5.
16 teams will participate in the youth tournament, which will see a total of 48 matches.
Defending champions Bangladesh, England, Canada and the United Arab Emirates are part of Group A while Group C features Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea.
Group D comprises host West Indies, Australia and Sri Lanka. Scotland complete the tournament line up in Group D after New Zealand pulled out due to the extensive mandatory quarantine regulations for minors on their return home.
The tournament will utilise ten venues in four Caribbean countries – Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago, ICC confirmed through a press release.
The semi-finals will be played on February 1 and February 2 across two venues – the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground and Coolidge Cricket Ground.
The Final will be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on February 5.
“CWI is looking forward to hosting this important global U19 cricket event, which is just around the corner, in January,” Cricket West Indies President Ricky Skerritt said in a statement. “In partnership with host territorial boards, cricket clubs, and Ministries of Sports, we have been hard at work preparing for this event over the past several months. However, amid so many Covid-related challenges, it has not been easy to finalise the venues and to work out all the related logistics.
“At the same time, our U19 head coach, Floyd Reifer, and his coaching staff have been busy preparing our team for competition, using innovative methods to keep them active even while they were restricted from travel.
“West Indies has a proud under-19 cricket history, with several bright talents blossoming into international stars over the years. We, therefore, expect our current team of under-19 players to do us proud in the 2022 tournament.
“I am also confident that our visitors will experience the best of our world-famous Caribbean culture and hospitality in Antigua & Barbuda, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Trinidad & Tobago.”
(With ICC inputs)
