Jay Shah removes India, Pakistan from the same group in ICC tournament after Asia Cup Heat

There has been a lot of buzz after the Asia Cup 2025 drama, and now the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah has ensured India and Pakistan were placed in different groups for the upcoming ICC tournament.

Jay Shah has announced the schedule and venues for the upcoming 16th edition of the ICC U19 World Cup 2026. This event will take place in Namibia and Zimbabwe. The ICC U19 World Cup 2026 will run from 15 January to 6 February 2026.

Jay Shah unveils ICC U19 World Cup 2026 schedule; India and Pakistan in different groups

The format of the tournament remains unchanged, with 16 teams split into four groups of four and a total of 41 matches scheduled across 23 days. Well, India, the five-time champions, has been slotted alongside Bangladesh, the USA, and New Zealand in Group A.

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On the other hand, Pakistan has been placed in Group B alongside Zimbabwe, England, and Scotland. The teams will arrive in the African nation on 8 January, with the warm-ups scheduled to kick off from 9 to 14 January.

Here are the groups:

Group A: India, Bangladesh, the USA, and New Zealand

Group B: Zimbabwe, Pakistan, England, and Scotland

Group C: Australia, Ireland, Japan, and Sri Lanka

Group D: Tanzania, West Indies, Afghanistan, and South Africa

Tanzania set to make historic debut as ICC U19 World Cup 2026 begins with high-voltage clashes

The ICC U19 World Cup 2026 will begin with an exciting first day, as India faces the USA, Zimbabwe clashes with Scotland, and Tanzania takes on the West Indies. Tanzania is making its debut in the tournament, while Japan, which last appeared in the 2020 edition, is also making a comeback.

After the group stage, the tournament will move into the Super Six round. In this phase, the top three teams from each group will be divided into two new groups of six, where they will fight for a place in the knockout stage.

The top teams reach the semi-finals and then the final. These matches will have reserve days to avoid disruptions. The matches will be played across five major venues: Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Sports Club in Harare, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, and two grounds in Windhoek, Namibia—the Namibia Cricket Ground and High-Performance Oval Cricket Ground.

Jay Shah hails U19 World Cup’s role in shaping superstars

Jay Shah said in an official statement: “The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup has long been the cradle of greatness, a tournament that reveals not just the next generation of cricketers, but the next generation of icons. From Brian Lara and Sanath Jayasuriya to Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Shubman Gill, the event has consistently shaped the future of our sport.”

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The ICC chairman added, “As we look ahead to the 2026 edition in Zimbabwe and Namibia, we are excited to provide young cricketers with a world-class platform that mirrors the standards and pressures of senior international cricket. This tournament is where dreams are ignited, rivalries are born, and the global cricketing landscape begins to take its next form.”

At the end, Jay Shah shared his excitement about Tanzania making their first-ever appearance in the tournament. He also sent warm wishes to all the teams, saying they are starting an important journey where they will represent their countries with pride and hope.

Here’s ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Schedule:

15 January: USA vs India at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

15 January: Zimbabwe vs Scotland at Takashinga Sports Club, Harare

15 January: Tanzania vs West Indies at High Performance Oval Cricket Ground, Windhoek

16 January: Pakistan vs England at Takashinga Sports Club, Harare

16 January: Australia vs Ireland at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

16 January: Afghanistan vs South Africa at High Performance Oval Cricket Ground, Windhoek

17 January: India vs Bangladesh at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

17 January: Japan vs Sri Lanka at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

18 January: New Zealand vs USA at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

18 January: England vs Zimbabwe at Takashinga Sports Club, Harare

18 January: West Indies vs Afghanistan at High Performance Oval Cricket Ground, Windhoek

19 January: Pakistan vs Scotland at Takashinga Sports Club, Harare

19 January: Sri Lanka vs Ireland at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

19 January: South Africa vs Tanzania at High Performance Oval Cricket Ground, Windhoek

20 January: Bangladesh vs New Zealand at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

20 January: Australia vs Japan at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

21 January: England vs Scotland at Takashinga Sports Club, Harare

21 January: Afghanistan vs Tanzania at HP Oval, Windhoek

22 January: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan at Takashinga Sports Club, Harare

22 January: Ireland vs Japan at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

22 January: West Indies vs South Africa at High Performance Oval Cricket Ground, Windhoek

23 January: Bangladesh vs USA at Takashinga Sports Club, Harare

23 January: Sri Lanka vs Australia at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

24 January: India vs New Zealand at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

24 January: A4 vs D4 at High Performance Oval Cricket Ground, Windhoek

25 January: Super Six A1 vs D3 at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

25 January: Super Six D2 vs A3 at High Performance Oval Cricket Ground, Windhoek

26 January: B4 vs C4 at Harare Sports Club, Harare

26 January: Super Six C1 vs B2 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

26 January: Super Six D1 vs A2 at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

27 January: Super Six C2 vs B3 at Harare Sports Club, Harare

27 January: Super Six C3 vs B1 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

28 January: Super Six A1 vs D2 at Harare Sports Club, Harare

29 January: Super Six D3 vs A2 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

30 January: Super Six D1 vs A3 at Harare Sports Club, Harare

30 January: Super Six B3 vs C1 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

31 January: Super Six B2 vs C3 at Harare Sports Club, Harare

01 February: Super Six B1 vs C2 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

03 February: First Semi-Final at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

04 February: Second Semi-Final at Harare Sports Club, Harare

06 February: Final at Harare Sports Club, Harare