Under-19s World Cup 2003-04

Photo © ICC

At present the U/19 World Cup Qualifying Tournaments are being held around the globe, with teams competing for a place in the prestigious U/19 World Cup in Bangladesh in February/March 2004. The dates of the qualifying series are as follows:

Dates & Venues:
ICC Africa/East Asia-Pacific U/19 World Cup Qualifier
2 - 10 October 2003, Windhoek, Namibia

ICC Americas U/19 World Cup Qualifier
14 - 20 July 2003, Toronto, Canada

ICC European U/19 World Cup Qualifiers
24 July - 2 August 2003, Holland

ICC Asian U/19 World Cup Qualifier
14 -27 July 2003 - Karachi, Pakistan

Australia will defend the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup against 15 other nations in Bangladesh in February and March 2004. The 16 teams will play 54 matches beginning with four groups of four. Each of the groups will be based in a different region of Bangladesh at a total of eight venues.

"The impact of this tournament will be significant," said the BCB's Host Tournament Director Roquibul Hassan.

"We are investing in the infrastructure of our venues to bring them up to international standard and hosting this tournament will help us develop our organising capability and cricket administration skills.

"In taking the tournament to four different regions it will give cricket lovers throughout the country an opportunity to watch future Test players in action. Hopefully it will also inspire youngsters to take up the sport."

The top two teams in each group will progress to the Super League in Dhaka (eight teams in two groups) while the bottom two from each group will compete for the Plate Championship in Chittagong (eight teams in two groups). The top two from each group will contest the semi-finals in each competition with both finals taking place in Dhaka.

"The hosting of this event will give our people a real sense of national pride," added Mr Hassan.