U-19 WC kicks off today

Future stars will get a chance to show their talent and prowess when the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup gets underway across the United Arab Emirates here on Friday.

India will seek to defend the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup title in a 16-day tournament in which 48 matches will be played. India previously won the crown under Mohammad Kaif in 2000 and Virat Kohli in 2008, but unlike Pakistan, its opponent in Saturday's match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, they have never won back-to-back titles.

India seems to have strong credentials in this event as only a month ago in the UAE, they won the U-19 Asia Cup by beating Pakistan.

Last year in July, it also won the Top End U-19 tri-series, which featured Australia and New Zealand, and beat Sri Lanka in August in a bilateral series as well as winning an U-19 quadrangular series, which also involved South Africa, Australia and Zimbabwe.

Friday’s fixtures: UAE vs England, Zimbabwe vs Canada, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, South Africa vs West Indies.