JOHANNESBURG Zimbabwe junior cricketers face a tough task to make an impression at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup 2010 after they were drawn against stiff opposition.Last weeks draw for the ICC U/19 World Cup 2010 tournament scheduled for January 15-30 in New Zealand placed Zimbabwe in Group C, where their opponents include cricket powerhouses New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Canada.
Group A consists of India, England, Afghanistan and Hong Kong while Group B comprises South Africa, Australia, Ireland and the United States. Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies and Papua New Guinea make up Group D.
Defending champions India will open their campaign against qualifiers Afghanistan in front of the ESPN Star Sports (ESS) cameras at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, near Christchurch on the opening day of the competition with Pakistan facing the West Indies in Palmerston North and 2008 losing finalists South Africa taking on Ireland in Queenstown.
The ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup is the leading development tournament for international crickets stars of the future, Jerry Fitzgerald, ICC communications officer told The Zimbabwean on Sunday in a statement from United Arab Emirates.
The tournament has produced outstanding cricket talents such as Inzamam-ul-Haq, Brian Lara, Graeme Smith, Sanath Jayasuriya, Yuvraj Singh, who have all gone to illuminate the international senior stage.
From the 2008 event in Malaysia several players including Wayne Parnell of South Africa, Philip Hughes of Australia, Virat Kholi and Ravindra Jadeja of India, and New Zealands Tim Southee have already made the breakthrough to senior cricket.
Previous winners of the biennial event are Australia (1988 and 2002), England (1998), India (2000 and 2008) and Pakistan (2004 and 2006).
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