The Indian Junior side will start their Under-19 World Cup campaign against three-time champions Australia on January 14 at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. The announcement was made on Thursday with both the teams lined up in Group B. The group also includes Zimbabwe and Papua New Guniea barring these two teams.
The tournament will see 16 teams participating with the matches scheduled to take place across seven venues and four cities. The defending champions West Indies now called the Windies will start their campaign against hosts New Zealand on 13th which will be the first day of the tournament. The final is scheduled to be played on February 3.
Barring Mount Maunganui which is scheduled to host the final, the three other cities where matches will be played during the tournament includes Christchurch, Queenstown and Tauranga. Each of the teams will play a couple of warm-up matches which is scheduled between 8th to 11t January.
The 16 teams are divided into four groups. All 10 Test playing nations (before Afghanistan and Ireland were granted Test status) qualified for the tournament automatically. Namibia who finished as the best associate nation during the previous edition was also granted a direct entry.
The five other team includes Kenya (Africa), Papua New Guniea, Ireland, Afghanistan and Canada.
Top two teams from each group will qualify for the super league while the rest eight teams will take part in the Plate Championship. In all, 20 matches will be broadcasted live on television including the knockout clashed including the quarter final, semi final and the final. The Semi-finals will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on January 29 and 30 with the plate championship also being played simultaneously.
Groups
Group A: West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya.
Group B: India, Australia, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea.
Group C: England, Bangladesh, Canada, Namibia.
Group D: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Ireland.