India face Australia in ICC U19 World Cup opener

India are clubbed with Australia, Zimbabwe and East Asia Pacific qualifier Papua New Guinea in Group B, an Intertiol Cricket Council (ICC) release stated on Thursday.

Prior to the start of the main event, India will face South Africa (January 9) and Kenya (January 11) in their two warm-up fixures.

Defending champion West Indies will play host New Zealand in the iugural Group A day-night fixture at Bay Oval on the opening day of the event, featuring 16 teams across seven venues in four cities: Christchurch, Queenstown, Tauranga and Whangarei.

The other teams in Group A are 2012 champion South Africa and Africa qualifier Kenya.

The 10 Test playing tions (prior to Afghanistan and Ireland’s recent inclusion) gained automatic qualification to the event along with the best finishing associate from the last edition, mibia.

They are joined by five regiol qualifiers in the biennial tourment that showcases future stars every two years.

Bangladesh, Cada, England and mibia comprise Group C while two-time champion Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Asia qualifier Afghanistan and Europe qualifier Ireland form Group D in what is the 11th edition of the tourment and the third to be held in New Zealand.

The top two sides from each group will advance to the Super League while the remaining eight teams will figure in the plate championship.

The quarter-fils, semi-fils and fil of the Super League will be among the 20 matches to be broadcast live. The fil will be played at Bay Oval on February 3 while both semi-fils will be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on January 29 and 30.

The plate tourment will run simultaneously but end with the fil at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Christchurch on January 28.

Commenting on the upcoming tourment, ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said: “The ICC U19 World Cup plays an important role in the progression of young talent onto the global stage.”

“The list of past and current players who had their first taste of a major event at this tourment is a long one and I have no doubt we’ll be witnessing some of tomorrow’s stars in New Zealand next year,” he added.

The captains of the teams coming through the qualifiers are looking forward to the tourment, which is a stepping stone in the development of all participants — players and match officials. IANS