WITH the group and Super Six stages completed, the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup has entered its decisive phase, with Australia, England, India and Afghanistan booking places in the semi-finals. The knockout matches begin tomorrow, 3 February 2026, in Zimbabwe, with the finalists to be decided by two winner-takes-all encounters.
After 38 matches across southern Africa, only three games remain to determine the next Under-19 world champions. Defending champions Australia and England remain unbeaten and will clash in the first semi-final, while India and Afghanistan meet in an all-Asian contest in the second semi-final. The final is scheduled for 6 February in Harare.
Semi-final fixtures
1st Semi-final: Australia v England – 3 February 2026 | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
2nd Semi-final: India v Afghanistan – 4 February 2026 | Harare Sports Club, Harare
Final
TBC v TBC – 6 February 2026 | Harare Sports Club, Harare
Road to the semi-finals
Defending champions Australia have cruised into the knockouts with five wins from five matches. The young Aussies have looked well balanced with bat and ball, overcoming their sternest test against the West Indies in the Super Six stage. Having spent much of the tournament in Namibia before their outing in Zimbabwe, adapting quickly to local conditions will be key as they face unbeaten England.
England join Australia and India as the only unbeaten teams in the competition. Their campaign began with a 36-run victory over Pakistan and was sealed with a commanding 65-run win over New Zealand to secure semi-final qualification. Ben Mayes has been the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 375 runs at an average of 93.75, while Manny Lumsden sits joint top of the wicket-taking charts with 13 dismissals.
India have lived up to pre-tournament expectations, showing depth and balance throughout the competition. Although their early matches were affected by rain under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, emphatic wins over Zimbabwe and Pakistan underlined their title credentials. With match-winners spread across the side, India will be eager to go one better than their runner-up finish in 2024.
Afghanistan’s rise on the global stage has continued, with another impressive Under-19 campaign taking them into the semi-finals. Standout victories over South Africa and the West Indies highlighted their potential, while a thumping win over Ireland sealed their place in the knockouts after an earlier setback against Sri Lanka. Faisal Khan has been among the leading run-scorers with 325 runs, while Nooristani Omarzai has taken 12 wickets to sit among the top bowlers of the tournament.
With no second chances from here, the tournament now moves into winner-takes-all territory. Four teams remain, but only one will lift the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup trophy on 6 February.
Source: ICC Cricket World Cup
