DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC) – In a repeat of the 2004 final in Bangladesh, West Indies will tackle Pakistan in their opening game of the 2010 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand next January.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the match schedule yesterday for the tournament, showing West Indies facing Pakistan on January 15 before tackling Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea in their remaining Group D matches in Napier.

The TCL Group-sponsored West Indies U-19s, currently contesting the WICB President’s Cup tournament in Guyana, will face Bangladesh on January 17 and Papua New Guinea on January 19 to complete the group phase.

Defending champion India will open their campaign against qualifiers Afghanistan in the January 15-30 tournament.

The 16 teams are split into four groups with Groups A and C being based in and around Christchurch, Group B teams playing their matches in Queenstown and Group D games taking place in Napier and Palmerston North.

In addition to the 10 ICC Full Members, there are six Associate and Affiliate teams taking part, having won through their respective regional qualifying tournaments as well as the global qualifier, which was held in Canada in September.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals with the remainder of the teams taking part in the plate competition.

India, England, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong are in Group A, Group B has South Africa, Australia, Ireland, and the USA, while New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Canada comprise Group C.

In their best ever showing in the Youth World Cup, West Indies had beaten England by 94 runs in the 2004 semi-final in Bangladesh before losing the final to Pakistan at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

Denesh Ramdin, Xavier Marshall, Lendl Simmons, and Ravi Rampaul were among the West Indies U-19 players in a 25-run loss to the Pakistanis in that championship decider.

ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Schedule
Friday January 15:

Pakistan v West Indies – Fitzherbert Park

India v Afghanistan – Bert Sutcliffe Ground

Zimbabwe v Canada – Queen Elizabeth II Ground

South Africa v Ireland – Queenstown

Saturday January 16:

Bangladesh v Papua New Guinea – Fitzherbert Park

England v Hong Kong – Bert Sutcliffe Ground

New Zealand v Canada – Lincoln Ground

Australia v USA – Queenstown Ground

January 17:

Bangladesh v West Indies – Fitzherbert Park

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe – Bert Sutcliffe Park

India v Hong Kong – Hagley Park Ground

Australia v Ireland – Queenstown Ground

January 18:

Pakistan v Papua New Guinea – Fitzherbert Park

Sri Lanka v Canada – Lincoln Ground

England v Afghanistan – Queen Elizabeth II Ground

South Africa v USA – Queenstown Ground

January 19:

West Indies v Papua New Guinea – Fitzherbert Park

New Zealand v Zimbabwe – Bert Sutcliffe Ground

Afghanistan v Hong Kong – Hagley Park Ground

Ireland v USA – Queenstown Ground

January 20:

Pakistan v Bangladesh – Fitzherbert Park

New Zealand v Sri Lanka – Queen Elizabeth II Ground

South Africa v Australia – Queenstown Ground

January 21:

India v England – Bert Sutcliffe Ground

January 23-29 – Super 8/Plate Championship Play-offs