The Afghanistan Cricket Board announced that the Afghanistan National U19 Team will join India and host South Africa in a cricket Tri-Series later this month. The series, a precursor to the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2024, is slated to run from Dec. 29, 2023, to Jan. 10, 2024, in Johannesburg.
Matches will take place at the Old Edwardians Cricket Club in Johannesburg. Afghanistan’s U19 team, also known as the Future Stars, will play against India in the series opener, followed by a match against South Africa on Dec. 31. The teams will compete in a double round-robin format, culminating in a final on Jan. 10 between the top two teams.
ACB CEO Naseeb Khan said, “The series is a valuable chance for our Future Stars and the other teams to prepare for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 effectively.”
Following the series, the Afghanistan U19 team, sponsored by SuperCola Beverages Manufacturing Company, and the other teams will proceed to the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024. They will begin their campaign with two warmup games before the main event starts on Jan. 19.
Grant van Velden, CSA’s Head of High Performance, expressed gratitude to the cricket boards of India and Afghanistan for their collaboration in ensuring the tri-series success.
“These games are essential for our World Cup preparations,” van Velden commented. “They offer our young players an excellent opportunity to hone their skills against formidable opponents from India and Afghanistan. The series is also a vital chance for our players to refine their techniques before the World Cup on our home ground.”
