DOHA (Qatar): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the rescheduled qualification pathway to the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in the West Indies, where 33 teams will compete for five World Cup spots.
The 14th edition in the West Indies will involve Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe by virtue of their top 11 finish in the 2020 edition.
The 33 spots will be decided by seven regional events starting in June 2021. Due to the depth in strength in the Africa and Asia regions, a two-division qualification pathway will take place.
The remaining five spots will be determined by regional qualification. Qualification for the 2022 edition of the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup was delayed by a year due to COVID-19.
The Asia region which also has two divisions will see two qualifiers from Bhutan, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Thailand in Division 2 join Malaysia, Nepal and UAE nine in the Asia Qualifier to be hosted in the United Arab Emirates with the top team qualifying for the West Indies.
ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said: “The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup showcases the future stars of our game, with many top-class cricketers around the world having featured at this event.”
Teams from the other three regions, Americas, EAP and Europe will have a one division qualifying process, with the winner of each regional Qualifier claiming one of the five coveted ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 places.
The road to the West Indies which showcases the future stars of cricket, will begin in Tanzania with the Africa Division 2 in June 2021.
The hosts, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and Sierra Leone will be fighting for two spots to join Namibia, Nigeria and Uganda in the Africa Qualifier in September 2021.
The qualifier will be hosted by Nigeria who competed in their first ever ICC event at the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2020. The top team from the September event will secure their spot in the West Indies.
The top team from the remaining qualifiers East-Asia Pacific, Europe and Americas will make up the Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup line-up.
In Europe, Scotland will host the Qualifier from 30 July to 5 August and will compete alongside Denmark, Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey and the Netherlands for the World Cup spot. USA will host the Americas Qualifier and will be joined by Argentina, Bermuda and Canada between 18 and 25 August 2021.
