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Sports News: Cricket fans always look for India versus Pakistan games in every ICC event. This time the under nineteen stage will be different. The ICC has released the schedule for the 2026 U19 World Cup. Sixteen teams will play across Zimbabwe and Namibia from mid January to early February. India and Pakistan have been placed in different groups. That means there is no guaranteed clash in the league stage. For many viewers this is a surprise decision.
The U19 World Cup will again follow a simple format. There are sixteen teams in total. They are split into four groups of four sides each. Each team plays the other three teams in its group once. The best three teams from every group will qualify for the Super Six stage. From there the race continues toward the semi finals and final in Harare. Young players from every continent will try to make their mark in this pathway event.
India are placed in Group A as five time champions at this level. Their group also includes New Zealand, Bangladesh and the United States. All of India’s group games are scheduled in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The opening match of the whole tournament will see India face USA on 15 January. Two days later India meet Bangladesh, a team that has beaten them at youth level before. The last group match for India comes against New Zealand on 24 January. On paper India look strong, but junior cricket has produced surprises many times.
Pakistan have been drawn in Group B. They share their group with hosts Zimbabwe, England and Scotland. Playing in the same pool as the host nation can bring big crowds and pressure. Zimbabwe’s young players will know local pitches very well. England bring a strong school and academy system into the contest. Scotland arrive as underdogs yet can trouble bigger teams in helpful conditions. Pakistan must handle all three carefully to reach the Super Six without drama.
The headline for many fans is that there is no confirmed India versus Pakistan match. Because of the separate groups, they cannot meet in the group phase. However the door is still open for a clash later in the tournament. If both teams reach the Super Six in the right positions they could be drawn together. They might also meet in a semi final or even in the title match on 6 February. So the rivalry is delayed, not cancelled. That uncertainty will keep fans checking every result as the event unfolds.
Cricket between India and Pakistan always carries more weight than just sport. Political tension and security concerns often push the debate into television studios and parliaments. Some voices demand that the two countries never play each other. Others argue that cricket can reduce anger and open a narrow bridge for dialogue. At senior level ICC events usually keep the two teams in the same group to guarantee at least one contest. This under nineteen event shows a softer approach, letting the draw separate them at the start. It allows young players to focus more on development than on carrying the full pressure of a historic rivalry.
For the teenagers involved, this tournament is mainly a life changing opportunity. Many stars of modern cricket first appeared on screens at the U19 World Cup. Selectors from major leagues and boards will watch every innings and spell closely. Fans in India and Pakistan will follow not only the scorecards but also new names and stories. Even without a guaranteed derby, every match will shape the road to the senior teams. If an India Pakistan knockout game finally happens, it will feel earned rather than forced. Until then, supporters can enjoy clean youth cricket and dream about the next big star.
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