Dhaka: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced the schedule of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016 to be held in Bangladesh from 27 January to 14 February.

Defending champions South Africa will play hosts Bangladesh in the inaugural at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chittagong on 27 January while England will face Fiji at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong in the other opening day’s fixture.

In all 16 teams-ten test playing nations and six qualified associate and affiliate member countries --Afghanistan, Canada, Fiji, Namibia, Nepal and Scotland -- will also participate in the ICC Under-19 World Cup.

Top two from each group progressing to the Super League stage and the bottom two team of the group will play in the Plate Championship.

A total of 48 matches to be played in 19 days tournament in eight venues of country’s four cities--Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka and Sylhet, said an ICC media release.  

Announcing the schedule, the ICC general manager Geoff Allardice said, ‘The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup is an event which provides talented youngsters an early taste of international cricket in a global setting, countless players have come through this event and emerged shortly afterwards on to the international arena.’

For the first time in the history of the competition, the ICC will produce live broadcast coverage of an unprecedented 20 matches--four from Chittagong, nine from Mirpur and seven from Fatullah.

Grouping :  

Group-A: South Africa, Bangladesh, Scotland and Namibia

Group-B: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Canada  

Group-C: England, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Fiji

Group-D: Australia, India, New Zealand and Nepal

Group matches:

27 January: England vs Fiji, MAAS, Chittagong; South Africa vs Bangladesh, ZACS, Chittagong

28 January: Australia v India, SBNCS Mirpur; New Zealand vs Nepal, KSOAS Fatullah; Pakistan vs Afghanistan, SICS, Sylhet; Sri Lanka vs Canada, SDS, Sylhet

29 January: Zimbabwe vs Fiji, MAAS, Chittagong; England vs West Indies, ZACS, Chittagong; Scotland vs Namibia, SKICS Cox's Bazar (main)

30 January: India vs New Zealand, Mirpur; Australia vs Nepal, Fatullah; Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, SICS, Sylhet; Pakistan vs Canada, SDS, Sylhet

31 January: West Indies vs Fiji, MAAS, Chittagong; England vs Zimbabwe, ZACS, Chittagong; Bangladesh vs Scotland, SKICS Cox's Bazar (main); South Africa vs Namibia, Cox's Bazar (second)

1 February: India vs Nepal, SBNCS Mirpur; Australia vs New Zealand, KSOAS Fatullah; Afghanistan vs Canada, SICS, Sylhet

2 February: West Indies vs Zimbabwe, ZACS, Chittagong; Bangladesh vs Namibia, SKICS Cox's Bazar (main); South Africa vs Scotland, SKI