India to begin U-19 World Cup campaign against Australia

India will face Australia in their opening match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Cricket World Cup to be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh on January 28 next year.

Three-time U-19 winners (2000, 2008, 2012) India are clubbed in Group D alongside the other three-time champions Australia and New Zealand and Nepal.

Defending champions South Africa will open their title defence against host Bangladesh in Chittagong on January 27 at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

The Proteas and Bangladesh are in Group A alongside Scotland and Namibia.

Group B comprises two-time winner Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Canada, while Group C has 1998 champions England along with the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Fiji.

A total of 48 matches will be played across eight venues and the final will be held on February 14 in Mirpur.

According to the event format, the 16 sides have been equally divided into four groups of four each, with the top two from each group progressing to the Super League stage and the bottom two to feature in the Plate Championship.

The Super League semi-finals and final will have reserve days.

Apart from the 10 Test playing countries, six associate and affiliate member sides - Afghanistan, Canada, Fiji, Namibia, Nepal and Scotland - will also participate after winning the various regional qualifying events.

"The U-19 Cricket World Cup is an event which provides talented youngsters an early taste of international cricket in a global setting. Countless players have come through this event, and emerged shortly afterwards on to the international arena," ICC General Manager-Cricket Geoff Allardice said in a release on Monday.