On Monday the ICC confirmed the fixtures for the tournament that had been moved to South Africa following the ban imposed on Sri Lanka.

Six group games will be played at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein. The City of Roses will play host to predominantly Group A games which will feature India, Bangladesh, Ireland and the USA.

The Junior Proteas in turn will be played in the Potchefstroom for the Group B games which includes England, West Indies and Scotland as well.

Kimberley will host Group C which will be contested by Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Group D will be based in East London where Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Nepal will play their round-robin matches at Buffalo Park.

Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Potchefstroom will also be hosting knockout matches.

Willowmoore Park has been assigned as the venue for the two semi-finals as well as the final.

The 2024 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup gets underway on 19 January with Ireland vs. the USA in Bloemfontein, while in Potchefstroom the Junior Proteas will play against the Windies.

The final is scheduled to be played on 11 February in Benoni.

Junior Proteas squad - David Teeger (captain, Lions), Esosa Aihevba (Lions), Juan James (Western Province), Martin Khumalo (Easterns), Kwena Maphaka (Lions), Dewan Marias (Easterns), Riley Norton (Boland), Nqobani Mokoena (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal), Romashan Pillay (KwaZula-Natal Coastal), Sipho Potsane (Lions), Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Lions), Richard Seletswane (Lions), Oliver Whitehead (Western Province), Steve Stolk (Titans), and Ntando Zuma (KwaZulu-Natal Inland).

Morgan Piek OFM Sport