Saif Hassan-led Bangladesh will take on Namibia in their opening day match of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Christchurch in New Zealand tomorrow (Saturday), reports UNB.
Hosts New Zealand will take on defending champions West Indies in another opening day match at the Bay Oval, in Tauranga. The remaining two fixtures on the day will see Pakistan take on Afghanistan in Whangarei, and Zimbabwe face Papua New Guinea in Christchurch.
The Young Tigers have been pitted in Group C with Canada, Namibia and the England to play the group stage of the one-day format 16-team world event.
In their remaining group battles Bangladesh will play Canada and England on January 15 and 18 respectively. Top two teams from each group will move to the quarterfinals, starting on January 23.
Group A comprises West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa and Kenya while defending runners-up India, Australia, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea placed in Group B. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Asia qualifier Afghanistan and Europe qualifier Ireland completed the remaining D Group.
A total of 16 teams will compete in the tournament in seven venues -- Cobham Oval, Lincoln Green, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Bay Oval, Queenstown Events Centre, Hagley Oval and Mainpower Oval -- of four cities -- Whangarei , Christchurch, Queenstown and Tauranga. The tournament will end on February 3 with the final at Bay Oval.
The top two sides from each group will advance to the Super League while the remaining eight teams will fight in the play-off in the plate quarterfinals.
In the previous edition of the biannual tournament in 2016, Bangladesh reached the semifinals stage and made their exit from the main race losing to West Indies by three wickets on their home soil in Mirpur. Hosts Bangladesh finally finished the 3rd beating Sri Lanka by three wickets in the play-off match in Fatullah.