DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, (CMC) – West Indies Under-19s will feature on the opening day of the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup against hosts South Africa on January 19 next year at J.B. Marks Oval in the city of Potchefstroom.

The ICC, the sport’s world organising body, released the schedule on Monday for the 16-team event, which was moved from Sri Lanka, after provisionally suspending Sri Lanka Cricket on November 23 because of extensive government interference in the SLC’s administration.

The 15th edition of the global youth showpiece will be held from January 19 to February 11 next year, and five venues across South Africa will host the 41 matches over more than three weeks, with the final taking place at Willomoore Park in Benoni.

“In the past 12 months, we have seen South Africa successfully deliver two milestone events for the sport – the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup last year, and the ground-breaking ICC Women’s T20 World Cup that immediately followed,” ICC head of events, Chris Tetley said in a news release.

“The relocation of the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 to South Africa allows us the opportunity to build on this momentum and welcome the best young cricketers on the planet to five notable international venues.”

West Indies Under-19s will also face Scotland on January 24 at J.B. Marks Oval, where they will also meet England two days later to end their fixtures in Group B of the tournament.
Five-time champions India will begin their defence against 2020 winners Bangladesh at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.

The Indians prevailed in the previous edition of the tournament last year in the Caribbean, and they are placed in Group A with Bangladesh, Ireland, and the United States as they attempt to claim a record sixth title.

Group C features Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Namibia, while Group D is made up of Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Nepal.

The top three sides from each group progress to the Super Six phase of the event ahead of the semi-finals and final in Benoni.

It will be the third time that South Africa has hosted the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup – after previous editions in 1998 and 2020.