Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is expected to inaugurate the cricket carnival in a grand ceremony at the Bangabandhu National on February 15. The 16-team juvenile meet is going to be biggest international cricket competition since Dhaka hosted the ICC mini World Cup in 1998.

Barring the confirmation of two African and European teams which would be known after a regional qualifier, the fixture was finalised during yesterday's inter-ministerial meeting chaired by State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman.

But the official unveiling of the World Youth Cup logo will take place on November 11 at city hotel. ICC president Ehsan Mani and chief executive Malcolm Speed will be present on the occasion.

Bangladesh have been pencilled in the Group C along with India, New Zealand and Scotland.

Ten Test playing nations and six associate members of the world body will take part in the competition. The teams will be split into four groups spread across eight different venues in the country.

After the six-day first round encounters, the top two finishers from each group will play in an eight-team Super League round (Cup round) while the rest will concentrate on the Plate section.

The Cup final will be held on March 5 at the big bowl with the Plate final taking place at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium a day earlier.

Talking to The Daily Star Sport, tournament director Roquibul Hasan said on Sunday that there was one major change in the playing conditions.

"All matches after the first round would continue into a second day without break. But in the case of the Cup final if a game is weather-affected, then it will played on the reserve day," he said.

GROUPS

GROUP A: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Canada (Rajshahi Divisional Stadium & Bogra Stadium).

GROUP B: South Africa, England, Nepal and runners-up team from Africa-Europe region (MA Aziz Stadium and Chittagong Divisional Stadium).

GROUP C: India, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Scotland (Banga-bandhu National Stadium, Fatullah Cricket Stadium and BKSP).

GROUP D: West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and the champions from Africa-Europe region (Khulna Divisional Stadium).

FIXTURE (first round)

Feb 15: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

England v Nepal

Bangladesh v New Zealand

Pakistan v Africa-Europe region's champions

Feb 16: Australia v Canada

South Africa v Africa-Europe region's runners-up

India v Scotland

West Indies v Ireland

Feb 17: Sri Lanka v Canada

England v Africa-Europe region's runners-up

Bangladesh v Scotland

Pakistan v Ireland

Feb 18: Australia v Zimbabwe

South Africa v Nepal

India v New Zealand

West Indies v Africa-Europe region's champions

Feb 19: Zimbabwe v Canada

Nepal v Africa-Europe region's runners-up

New Zealand v Scotland

Africa-Europe region's champions v Ireland

Feb 20: Australia v Sri Lanka

South Africa v England

India v Bangladesh

West Indies v Pakistan