Junior (under-17) Asia Cup 2004

Sri Lanka Cricket is pleased to announce that the above tournament will be played from the 13th to 27th January 2004 in India. Assuming all 20 member countries participates the initial round (1st round) will be played amongst 16 countries divided in four groups of four countries. The groups are as follows:

Group `A'      Group `B'       Group `C'      Group `D'
Malaysia       UAE             Singapore      Hong Kong
Nepal          Afghanistan     Iran           Bhutan
Qatar          Kuwait          Thailand       Saudi Arabia
Brunei         Oman            Bahrain        Maldives

The 1st round matches will be played on 13th, 14th & 16th January 2004 in Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Bangalore & Chennai. Group `A' will play in Vishakhapatnam, Group `B' will play in Hyderabad, group `C' will play in Bangalore & group `D' will play in Chennai. Matches will be played on a round robin league basis and two grounds in each centre will be used.

The winners of each group will join the four Test playing countries, viz Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the 2nd round. The 2nd round will be two groups of four teams each. The 2nd round matches will be played on the 19th 20th & 22nd January in Bangalore and Vishakhapatnam. Matches will be played on a round robin league basis and two grounds in each centre will be used. The groupings are as follows:

Group 1             Group 2
India               Bangladesh
Pakistan            Sri Lanka
Winner Group `A'    Winner Group `B'
Winner Group `C'    Winner Group `D'

Group `A' will play in Bangalore and Group 2 in Vishakhapatnam. Winners of group 1 will play the runners up of group 2 in the first semi finals while the winners of group 2 will play the runners up of group 1 in the second semi finals on 25th January 2004. The final will be played on 27th January 2004. The semi finals and the final will be played in Bangalore.

All matches will be day matches and shall comprise of a maximum of 45 overs per inning. Players will wear white clothing and red cricket balls will be used.