WELLINGTON: The ICC U-19 2018 World Cup was launched here on Thursday with 44 days to go for the 16-team event that brings together future stars, who will compete across four cities and seven venues in New Zealand f rom Jan 13 to Feb 3.

The function was attended by Hon Grant Robertson, Minister for Sports and Recreation of New Zealand, ICC chief executive David Richardson, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive David White and event brand ambassador Corey Anderson among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Richardson thanked NZC for hosting the tournament for the third time and extolled the importance of the U-19 World Cup in grooming players from around the world.

`The U-19 World Cup is special for so many reasons. It gives players an unrivaled experience of global events, a real flavour of international cricket at senior level and a glimpse into what life as one of the worlds best is really like,` Richardson said.

`This event plays an important role in developing the participating teenagers into international professionals, teaching them invaluable lessons in camaraderie, discipline, leadership, playing under pressure and of course in the spirit of the game.`A host of past and present stars have come through the U-19s since its inception in 1988. The fact that a number of current captains including your very own Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, Sarfraz Ahmed, Dinesh Chandimal and Eoin Morgan have all played in the event demonstrates the calibre of cricket we have come to expect at this event.New Zealand all-rounder Anderson remembered how the tournament helped shape his career.

`It is an honour for me to be associated with this tournament as its Brand Ambassador. I played in two U-19 World Cups in 2008 and 2010 and cant forget the experience of playing with the upcoming best from around the world,` Anderson said.-Agencies