ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2004

ICC releases

ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2004

Event organisers at the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2004 have had to print extra tickets for the group matches in the outlying town of Bogra as the initial 28,000 tickets have all sold out.

 The game between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at the Bogra District Stadium on 15 February will be the first ever international cricket match held in the town and already 10,000 tickets have been snapped up.

All 9,000 tickets printed for Zimbabwe¹s matches against Australia on 18 February and Canada on 19 February have also been bought by members of the public.

The Bogra District Stadium has been constructed in the last year as part of an ambitious Government-run project that will leave a strong cricket legacy throughout the country. The 17,000 capacity stadium is a three-hour drive from the capital Dhaka and will be inaugurated by the Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia on 7 February.It is one of two stadiums that will be used for Group A matches along with the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium which has also been significantly upgraded for the tournament.

New playing and practice facilities have also been built in the towns of Chittagong, Fatullah and Khulna. ICC President Ehsan Mani added his support for the development work that has taken place over recent months.³The Bangladesh Government has shown tremendous commitment to the development of the sport that in the short term will serve the participants in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup very well. In the longer term these facilities will enable the next generation of Bangladeshi cricketers to practice and improve.²

 The Opening Ceremony of the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2004 is on Tuesday 10 February in Dhaka with matches running from 15 February to 5 March.    

Australia targets another World Cup double

 Australia¹s U/19 cricketers arrive in Bangladesh tomorrow aiming to become the first ever team to defend the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup. The Australia U/19s squad will be hoping to draw inspiration from the full Australia team that, less than 12 months ago, successfully retained the ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa without losing a match.

Australia claimed the U/19 title for the second time in New Zealand in 2002, beating South Africa by seven wickets in the final. Adam Crosthwaite is the only member of Australia¹s 2002 squad that will feature in Bangladesh. Two years ago he kept wicket in all eight matches, claiming 11 catches ­ including two in the final - and four stumpings. Crosthwaite also scored 102 runs at an incredible strike rate of 129.62.

The ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup has been held on four previous occasions. It began with a one-off event in Australia in 1988 which was won by the hosts. There was then a 10 year gap until South Africa hosted the tournament in 1998. It has been a biennial fixture in the international calendar ever since. Australia is the only country to have won the ICC U/19 CWC on more than one occasion. The other previous winners are England in 1998 and India in 2000.

In 2004 Australia has been drawn in Group A with Canada, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and will play its first round matches in Rajshahi and Bogra.

Practice match schedule for ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2004 All teams participating in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup will play two practice matches before the first round of official matches begin on 15 February. The 16 teams will all attend the opening ceremony in Dhaka on 10 February before departing to their respective regions the following day.

Matches against local representative sides will be played at all eight of the tournament venues as well as six additional grounds. These additional venues for the practice matches are Rajshahi District Stadium, Bogura Police Line Ground, Chittagong Police Ground, Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Jessore District Stadium and Khulna District Stadium.

Cup Holders Australia begins its warm-ups with a match against a Rajshahi DSA XI at the newly refurbished Rajshahi Divisional Stadium on 12 February. Hosts Bangladesh will also begin their practice schedule on the same day. They take on a Narayngaj DSA XI at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium just outside Dhaka.  

Rajshahi/Bogra ­ Group A 

12 Feb

• Australia v Rajshahi DSA XI                 Rajshahi Divisional Stadium
• Canada v Rajshahi Mayor XI              Rajshahi District Stadium
• Sri Lanka v Bogra DSA XI                   Bogra District Stadium
• Zimbabwe v Rajshahi Div XI                Bogura Police Line Ground