Kuala Lumpur: Ten teams, including host Malaysia, are set to vie for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-16 (U-16) East Zone Cup 2025, which kicks off tomorrow. The Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) announced that the prestigious youth tournament will run until July 5 at several venues including the YSD-UKM Oval in Bangi, Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar Oval in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan, and the Selangor Turf Club in Seri Kembangan.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the competition will follow a round-robin format, with the top two teams progressing to the final. Organised as part of the ACC’s youth development pathway, the tournament will be played in the 50-over format to simulate the competitive conditions of future international cricket.

Malaysia has been drawn in Group B alongside Hong Kong, Thailand, the Maldives, and Myanmar. Group A will feature teams from Nepal, Singapore, Indonesia, Bhutan, and Japan. The format and structure aim to provide young cricketers with invaluable experience as they progress through the ranks.

MCA president Mahinda Vallipuram emphasized in the statement that the tournament is a crucial component of the players’ development pipeline, potentially grooming the next generation of national cricketers for the international stage.