Vaibhav Suryavanshi Ind U19 AccImage Credit source: Asian Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a big and surprising decision regarding next year’s Under-19 Men’s World Cup 2026. There will be no competition between India and Pakistan in this tournament to be held in January and February. ICC has announced the schedule of this tournament and has surprised everyone with its decision. 16 teams are participating in this tournament, which are divided into 4 groups. But breaking the trend that has been going on for the last several years, ICC has placed India and Pakistan in separate groups this time, due to which there will be no competition between the two in the group stage.
Relations between the two countries are full of tension since the fierce military confrontation between India and Pakistan on the border this year. Due to this, many times there were demands to stop the matches between India and Pakistan. However, despite this, the ICC had recently approved the match between the two teams in the ICC Women’s World Cup and next year’s Men’s T20 World Cup. But at the Under-19 level, ICC has decided to keep both the teams in separate groups.
ICC announced the schedule of the World Cup to be played in Namibia and Zimbabwe on Wednesday 19 November. This World Cup, played in ODI format, will start from January 15 and its final will be played on February 6. A total of 16 teams are participating in the tournament, which have been divided into four groups of 4 teams each. The Indian team, which has won the World Cup maximum 5 times, has been placed in Group A. Along with Team India, New Zealand, Bangladesh and America have been kept in this group. The first match of the tournament will be played between India and America in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
On the other hand, Pakistan has been placed in Group B along with hosts Zimbabwe, England and Scotland. Whereas the current champion Australia has been placed in Group C, where Ireland, Japan and Sri Lanka have been placed along with it. Apart from this, Tanzania, West Indies, Afghanistan and South Africa are in Group D. However, in the last two Under-19 World Cups, India and Pakistan were in different groups and no match was played between them in the tournament. This time also the situation is the same. But there can be a clash between India and Pakistan at any stage from Super-6 to the final.
Team India’s schedule in World Cup
January 15- India vs USA, Bulawayo
17 January- India vs Bangladesh, Bulawayo
24 January- India vs New Zealand, Bulawayo