Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Cricket has thrown the gates wide open for next year’s ICC Men’s Under 19 ZIMBABWE Cricket World Cup, confirming that every match staged in the country will be free to watch.
The gesture sets the tone for a tournament that returns Zimbabwe to the centre of global youth cricket as it co-hosts the event with Namibia.
The competition begins on January 15 and the full schedule, released last week, shows how heavily Zimbabwe will feature.
Local fans will get most of the action across Queens Sports Club, Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Sports Club.
Forty one matches are set for the tournament, excluding warm up games, and 25 of them will be played on Zimbabwean soil.
Harare Sports Club will take the spotlight later in the tournament.
It has no group games and will only stage its first match on January 26 when the number four teams in Group B and C meet.
The venue will then host one of the semi finals and the final on February 6.
All Zimbabwe based group games will be shared between Queens in Bulawayo and Takashinga in the capital.
Sixteen teams will contest the title across five grounds in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The opening day serves up a busy start, with India playing the USA, Zimbabwe meeting Scotland and Tanzania stepping onto the big stage for the first time when they face the West Indies.
The format remains familiar. Four groups of four feed into a Super Six round before the knockout phase begins in Harare. Defending champions Australia begin their run on day two against Ireland in Windhoek.
India’s clash with Bangladesh on January 17 in Bulawayo stands out as an early heavyweight meeting.
Ten teams qualified automatically from the 2024 edition and joined hosts Zimbabwe.
Five others came through regional qualifiers, a sign of how broad the pathway has become for emerging nations.
Zimbabwe are in Group C with England, Pakistan and Scotland, a demanding pool that sets up some of the tournament’s most intriguing fixtures.
Ireland have become the first team to name their squad. The 15 man side will be led by pace bowler Olly Riley as captain and Reuben Wilson as vice captain, who heads into his third U19 World Cup.
2026 ICC Men’s Under 19 Cricket World Cup groups
Group A: Australia, Ireland, Japan, Sri Lanka
Group B: Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, USA
Group C: England, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, South Africa, Tanzania, West Indies
