Young cricket talents count the days until they reach the top of the world after the official start of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020 in South Africa.
Sixteen nations from five continents will participate in the 13th edition of the tournament from January 17th. South Africa is the host for the first time since 1998.
The countdown to the opening game has started. Guests and dignitaries from all over the world meet today in Willowmoore Park in Benoni to start the competition.
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Cricket, Geoff Allardice and Dr. Jacques Faul, Acting CEO of Cricket South Africa, included Sivuyile Mqingwana, tournament director of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020, and the officially announced Proteas legend for fast bowling, Makhaya Ntini as the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup ambassador.
Current internationals Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson are just a handful of those who have made a name for themselves in the global showcase over the years. New stars want to shine and follow in the footsteps of the game’s greatest heroes.
Manu Sawhney, Chief Executive of ICC, said: “The ICC U19 World Cup is so special for so many reasons. It offers future stars of our game an unparalleled experience of global events and the opportunity to compete for a World Cup.
“So many past and present stars have gone through the U19s since they were founded in 1988. Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson have all left their mark on the U19 World Cricket Championships and the importance of the best U19 players highlighted in the world. ” World plays against each other on the big stage.
“We are very happy that this event will take place in South Africa and will present the next generation of superstars to our game.
“I wish all teams the best of luck in preparing for the tournament and Cricket South Africa in organizing the event. We want to successfully start the first of three ICC World Cups in 2020.”
Tournament ambassador Ntini has more than 600 gates for South Africa in a distinguished career spanning more than a decade. Some of his earliest international memories flowed into his country’s U19 selection. His experience with the highest age group awards didn’t end there when his son Thando was proudly selected for the U19 World Cricket Championship in New Zealand almost two years ago.
What Ntini Said?
“I am very happy that the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup is coming to South Africa. The event celebrating cricket offers the future stars of the game the opportunity to experience global events and a real touch of international cricket at the highest level.
“I have very good memories of my son’s U19 World Cricket Championship and I am happy that people in South Africa can experience the event firsthand.
“The event is a real celebration of the game, and bringing the ultimate cricket experience to the communities of Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, Benoni and Kimberley and fans across South Africa is an incredible opportunity for the country to take on and enjoy an exciting World Cricket Championship. “
South Africa 2020 continues a proud tradition of global competition for the world’s leading teenage cricketers. 27 current cricket nations have been represented since the first tournament in 1988. Japan and Nigeria are participating for the first time in the upcoming edition, two of them 15 teams want to prevent India from defending the title they won at Mount Maunganui in 2018.
India is one of the six former champions who want to reach the final on February 9th in Potchefstroom. This is the exciting high point of 48 games played in venues across the country.
