• ICC snatches U-19 World Cup hosting rights from Sri Lanka Cricket, shifts to South Africa

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    ICC snatches U-19 World Cup hosting rights from Sri Lanka Cricket, shifts to South Africa

    The tournament is set to take place between January 13 and February 9, coinciding with the start of the second SA20 edition on January 10. 


    Digital Desk: The Sri Lankan cricket body was suspended amid allegations of government interference, therefore the ICC moved the next Under-19 Cricket World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa. In its current meeting in Ahmedabad, the ICC reportedly remained steadfast in its position about the suspension of SLC, according to a Cricbuzz report. Sri Lankan cricket will go on as usual despite the suspension; the hosting rights were only reversed.


    “It was a unanimous decision by the board that the suspension cannot be lifted. Cricket in the country will continue as normal,” a source close to the development was quoted as saying in the report.


    Though there had been talks about Oman and the UAE as possible hosts, South Africa—which had previously hosted the event in 1998 and 2020—was selected because of its better infrastructure.


    The tournament is set to take place between January 13 and February 9, coinciding with the start of the second SA20 edition on January 10. Nonetheless, Cricket South Africa guaranteed that both competitions could be run concurrently. On January 14, the reigning champions, India, will play their first game against Bangladesh.


    Participating teams:


    Sri Lanka (hosts), Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe