The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rescheduled the qualifiers of the 2022 Under 19 World Cup. The top eleven teams from the last World Cup have regained their spots, while 33 other nations would be fighting for five spots. ICC announced change in schedule on December 13. The last edition of the Under-19 World Cup was held in South Africa and won by Bangladesh. The 14th edition of the Under 19 World Cup is set to be hosted by West Indies.
Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Zimbabwe have already qualified for the tournament. The remaining five spots will be filled through regional qualifications. The 33 teams participating in qualifiers will be decided by seven regional events starting in June 2021.
Due to the in-depth strength in the Africa and Asia regions, a two-division qualification pathway will take place. Teams from Americas, East Asia Pacific, and Europe will have a one division qualifying process, where the winner of each regional qualifier will get one spot each.
As per ICC’s announcement, the road to West Indies would start in Tanzania with the Africa Division 2 during July 2021. The hosts from Division 2 will fight for two spots to join Namibia, Nigeria and Uganda in the Africa Qualifier in September 2021.
Asia is also divided into two division for U-19 World Cup qualifiers. Two teams from the group consisting Bhutan, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Thailand will move into next round. In the next qualifying round, these two teams will compete with Malaysia, Nepal, Kuwait, and UAE.
The East Asian group features Indonesia, PNG, Vanuatu, and Japan. Teams from East Asian group will compete in Japan between September 28 and October 4. In Europe, Scotland will host the qualifiers from July 30 to August 5. Meanwhile, USA will host the Americas Qualifier between August 18 and August 25.