Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, January 10, 2024
Cricket action is heating up as the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is all set to kick off on 19 January 2024. The 15th edition of the tournament will feature the rising stars of 16 countries battling it out in 48 matches, with five venues featuring the future of the international game.
New Zealand has been placed in Group D along with Afghanistan, Nepal and Pakistan, while India, Bangladesh, Ireland and the USA have been placed in Group A. The team is scheduled to depart later this week for South Africa, where they will compete for the championship title.
A New Format
The event will welcome a new format for this edition, where the three teams progressing from each of the four groups will enter a new Super Six stage, starting January 30, 2024. Two groups of six teams will clash to determine the Semi-Finalists and the subsequent Finalists.
The bottom-placed teams will then meet in placement games to determine finishing positions 13 to 16. It will be the third time that South Africa has hosted the Under 19 World Cup, after previous editions in 1998 and 2020.
All teams will play two warm-up fixtures in South Africa between January 13 to January 17, 2024.
The defending champions, India have been the most successful side in the tournament, with five titles to their name. Australia are the next best with three titles to their credit. Pakistan have won it twice, doing so in 2004 and 2006, while Bangladesh, England, South Africa and West Indies have all won it once.
Hamilton’s talent shines bright
As part of New Zealand’s Under 19 squad, Hamilton teen Snehith Reddy, more popularly known as Lucky Reddy, will be a talent to watch out for in South Africa. At age 17, Mr Reddy is already a highly talented cricketer, making his strong appearance felt in the cricket field. He is a batsman and an off-spinner in bowling and has already played for New Zealand ‘Under 17’ tournament last year, where he earned the title of ‘the most valuable player of the tournament.’
After finishing year 12 at Hamilton Boys’ High School, he will be heading to South Africa this week for the ICC World Cup, for which he has been training relentlessly over the holidays. As his peers begin the Year 13 school year, he will be in South Africa, with the hope of making everyone around him proud of his efforts and performance.
Snehith’s parents moved to New Zealand in 2007 when he was six months old. The family stayed in Auckland, before moving to Hamilton in 2014 where they started a café on Victoria Street. According to the family, it was in Hamilton that his love for the game started, where his father used to play for a cricket club, and Snehith accompanied him occasionally to the matches, as a helper and spectator.
Support behind the player
Snehith Reddy is also part of the Northern District’s ‘A team’, where he was the youngest ever player to be selected at a mere 15 years of age. Being trained by some great coaches like Chris Kuggeleijn, and BJ Watling and receiving support and guidance from Blackcaps like Tim Southee and Daryl Mitchell, is a scenario that the young cricketer is thankful for and he hopes to work hard and prove his mettle as he represents New Zealand on the World stage, starting next week.
His father, Krishna Reddy spoke exclusively to Indian Newslink and said, “Snehith has always been a very balanced child. He is highly motivated and his self-discipline and commitment to both academics and sports have been commendable. As parents, we are happy for this wonderful milestone in his sporting journey, but he is only getting started. To be only 17 years old and selected to represent his country in an Under 19 World Cup series is an absolute honour for him and all of us who have witnessed his hard work and dedication, and we wish him nothing but the best.”
With Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson as his idols and inspiration, the young talent is ready to aim for the stars, while his feet are firmly grounded in honest efforts towards his skill.
Snehith Reddy said, “I would like to focus on one step at a time. It is a privilege to be part of a team and represent New Zealand. I am excited for the experience and hope to contribute towards my team in the best way possible.”
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
