While Australia withdrew their name from the forthcoming 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup owing to security worries, the West Indies team had no such concerns as they became the first visiting side to arrive in Bangladesh, a full 18 days before the showpiece event.
Having arrived yesterday, the junior Windies cricketers will get two days to prepare themselves before the three-match one-day series against their Bangladesh counterparts gets underway at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The two teams will then depart for Chittagong for the second and third one-dayers, scheduled to be held at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium this Thursday and Saturday.
Bangladesh Cricket Board arranged the series to prepare the home side for the 11th edition of the age-level competition. This is the second time Bangladesh will be hosting the flagship event after 2004. On that occasion, the home side, comprising Nafees Iqbal, Naeem Islam and Aftab Ahmed among others, emerged as the plate champions defeating an Australian outfit containing Moises Henriques, Steve O’Keefe and Tim Paine.
Following the West Indies one-dayers, the junior Tigers will play two practice matches against their English and Zimbabwean counterparts before taking on holders South Africa in their tournament opener in Chittagong on January 27. Two days later, the junior West Indians will face England in their opening match.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s participation, in place of Australia, has been confirmed by the International Cricket Council.
