PESHAWAR: The long wait is finally over for cricket lovers as the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup officially begins today. The much-awaited tournament will showcase young teams from every corner of the world fighting for the prestigious title with three thrilling encounters planned for the first day.
The opening clash will have the historically strong Indian team take on the USA Under-19 team. It may be that India is the favourite, but still the American team has the potential to create a stir, thus making this a very exciting showdown.
Next, in the second game of the day, Zimbabwe is going to play against Scotland both being eager to make a winning start to the tournament and so stamping the rest of the campaign.
The last and third match of the day will have the home country, the West Indies, going up against Tanzania. The West Indies, with the home advantage of good conditions as well as the support of the local fans, will be in a strong position.
On the other hand, the Under-19 of Pakistan will be doing a practice session in Harare today. The players will work on their batting, bowling, and fielding skills to make them ready for their upcoming matches. The team management said that the players are completely dedicated and fit, looking sharp before the big tournament.
The first match for Pakistan will be played tomorrow against England that is anticipated to be a hard and thrilling challenge for both sides. Cricket aficionados are optimistic that the young Pakistani players will put up a stunning performance and move ahead in the competition.
PCB issues schedule of Pak-Australia T20 series
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that Australia will tour Pakistan in late January, during which three T20 matches will be played between the two teams at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The first match of the series will be held on January 29, after which the dates of the second and third matches have been set for January 31 and February 1, respectively. The toss in all matches will be at 5:30 pm while the match will start at 6 pm. The Australian T20 squad will arrive in Lahore on Wednesday, January 28, after which the teams will be busy with practice sessions and preparations at the Gaddafi Stadium.
This series is considered very important for both teams ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, as Pakistan is in Group A of the World Cup and Australia is in Group B. These matches are important tests for the form of the cricketers and the team’s strategy.
It should be noted that this will be Australia’s third tour of Pakistan since March 2022. Earlier in 2022, Australia played a Test series, three ODIs and a T20 match in Pakistan. The PCB has informed cricket fans that more details regarding entry and tickets to the Gaddafi Stadium will be released soon, so that fans can get tickets in time and enjoy the performances of their favourite players. This series is being described as a great opportunity to increase the passion for cricket in the country and provide entertainment for fan.
