India will open its Under 19 World Cup title defence against traditional rival and two-time former champion Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS), Dubai Sports City, on 15 February 2014.
The tournament will be staged across seven venues in the UAE from 14 February to 1 March, and will also be participated in by Afghanistan, Canada, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) besides the 10 Full Members.
India, which also won the tournament under Mohammad Kaif and Virat Kohli in 2000 and 2008, respectively, defeated Pakistan by one-wicket in an enthralling semi-final before going on to beat Australia by six wickets in the 2012 final in Townsville, Australia.
In the 2010 event in New Zealand, Pakistan beat India in a last-ball thriller in the quarter-final in Lincoln. The two sides also met in the final of the Under 19 World Cup 2006 in Colombo where Pakistan defended a modest total of 110 to win by 39 runs.
On the opening day of the tournament on 14 February, four matches will be played, with 1998 winner England taking on the UAE at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; Zimbabwe locking horns with Canada at Abu Dhabi Oval 1; New Zealand meeting Sri Lanka at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and South Africa taking on the West Indies at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The four groups are:
- Group A: India, Pakistan, Scotland, Papua New Guinea
- Group B: Australia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Namibia
- Group C: South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Canada
- Group D: New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, UAE