Qualification for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka 2024 resumes next week as Tanzania plays host to the Africa Qualifier from 23 to 30 July.
The best young cricketers on the African continent will take to the stage over eight tournament days, all eyeing the ultimate prize of securing a spot at the global showpiece event in January.
13 teams have already booked their tickets for Sri Lanka 2024, including Nepal and New Zealand, who joined the 11 automatically qualified nations by virtue of winning their respective regional Qualifiers in Asia and EAP earlier this year.
Taking to the field in Tanzania will be the most promising talent from six countries. Competing for the solitary spot available in the Africa Qualifier will be three teams that progressed from last year’s Division 2 Qualifiers; Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, along with Namibia, Uganda, and the host nation.
15 tournament matches are set to take place across two venues in Dar-es Salaam, the Dar Gymkhana Club Ground and the University of Dar-es Salaam (UDSM); the former hosting eight matches and the latter seven, in a round-robin format where only the table-topping side will clinch qualification.
With fierce competition predicted during the event, the tournament aims to continue the high-drama witnessed during the qualification pathway ahead of the 15th edition of the celebrated U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, an event which continues its rich legacy of forging the careers of some of the greats of the game.
Speaking ahead of the event, ICC Africa Regional Development Manager Patricia Kambarami said, “The region has a long history of producing exceptional young talent at these events, and with so much at stake at the Africa Qualifier, there will be plenty of drama once more.
“Tanzania will be host to nations such as Uganda and Nigeria that have qualified for the U19 Men’s World Cup through this pathway in recent memory, as well as others who will be aiming to taste World Cup cricket for the very first time. With all teams hungry for the solitary spot, it is no doubt set to be a competitive, exciting tournament.”
Hamisi Abdallah, the Chief Executive Officer of Tanzania Cricket Association, added,“We are excited and feel honoured to host an event of such magnitude for the next generation of cricketers.”
“Our facilities are in good shape and the other logistics are going on well off the field. The preparations are in the final stages. We are hopefully going to deliver a quality tournament.”
“We look forward to an exciting event as we get to showcase what Tanzania has to offer.”
Match Schedule
| Date | Fixture | Venue | Start time |
| Sunday 23 July | Namibia vs Uganda | Dar Gymkhana | 9:30am |
| Sunday 23 July | Tanzania vs Kenya | UDSM | 9:30am |
| Monday 24 July | Namibia vs Tanzania | Dar Gymkhana | 9:30am |
| Monday 24 July | Sierra Leone vs Nigeria | UDSM | 9:30am |
| Tuesday 25 July | Sierra Leone vs Kenya | Dar Gymkhana | 9:30am |
| Tuesday 25 July | Nigeria vs Uganda | UDSM | 9:30am |
| Wednesday 26 July | Uganda vs Tanzania | Dar Gymkhana | 9:30am |
| Wednesday 26 July | Kenya v Namibia | UDSM | 9:30am |
| Thursday 27 July | Tanzania vs Nigeria | Dar Gymkhana | 9:30am |
| Thursday 27 July | Sierra Leone v Namibia | UDSM | 9:30am |
| Friday 28 July | Kenya v Uganda | Dar Gymkhana | 9:30am |
| Saturday 29 July | Uganda vs Sierra Leone | Dar Gymkhana | 9:30am |
| Saturday 29 July | Kenya v Nigeria | UDSM | 9:30am |
| Sunday 30 July | Nigeria v Namibia | Dar Gymkhana | 9:30am |
| Sunday 30 July | Tanzania vs Sierra Leone | UDSM | 9:30am |
ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 Qualification Structure
16 teams will be competing at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Sri Lanka 2024 over 41 matches. 11 teams automatically qualified for the event as the best-placed Full Member nations from the previous event in 2022. These are: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
The remaining five spots will be determined through regional qualification pathways, with one team from each region securing a place at the event.
Americas and EAP each host one qualifying event in 2023, with the winner of each event sealing a spot at the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Sri Lanka 2024.
The Africa, Asia and Europe regions each have a two-step qualification structure. These regions hosted Division 2 Qualifiers in 2022 to determine the teams that will compete in the second and final qualifying event, the Regional Qualifier, with events taking place in 2023.
Only the winning teams from the Regional Qualifiers will qualify to compete at the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Sri Lanka 2024.
Asia and EAP Qualifiers have already been held this year, with Nepal and New Zealandwinning respectively, thereby securing their place at the U19CWC.
Remaining ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Regional Qualifiers
Africa Regional Qualifier – 23-30 July, Tanzania
Participating Teams: Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda
Europe Regional Qualifier – 6-12 August, Netherlands
Participating Teams: Guernsey, Italy, Jersey, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland
Americas Regional Qualifier – 11-17 August, Canada
Participating Teams: Argentina, Bermuda, Canada, Suriname, USA
Dark Burn
The term “wicket” is used multiple times in cricket. Getting a wicket is dismissing a batsman. Losing a wicket is getting dismissed. A bowler who dismisses a batsman is said to take a wicket. Sometimes, a cricket pitch is called a wicket, although this is considered incorrect by the Laws of Cricket. Regardless, it is still being used, especially by commentators.
buzzmouse
A cricket bat usually weighs between 2 and 3 pounds.