Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Uganda will fill the final two places at the International Cricket Council's Under-19 World Cup after contesting the final of the ICC Africa/East Asia-Pacific U/19 World Cup qualifier in Windhoek, Namibia, on Thursday.
The two sides join the ICC's 10 Full Member countries, Canada, Ireland, Nepal and Scotland at the tournament, to be held in Bangladesh from February 15 to March 5, 2004.
With the top two teams in the eight-team Africa/East Asia-Pacific tournament guaranteed a place at the finals, the semi-finals were as important as the final.
PNG claimed their place in the finals by beating Kenya in the first semi-final while Uganda defeated hosts Namibia.
PNG went on to win the final by 53 runs, ensuring a slightly better draw in the finals.
They will face the West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland (European under-19 winners) in Pool D while Uganda will be in Pool B with South Africa, England and Nepal (Youth Asia Cup winner).
Holders Australia, who beat South Africa by seven wickets in the 2002 final in New Zealand, are in Pool A with Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Canada (winner of the Americas qualifier).
Hosts Bangladesh have been grouped with India, New Zealand and Scotland (European runners-up) in Pool C.
Preparations for the tournament are already underway in Bangladesh and the official launch of the event will take place in Dhaka on November 11. This date falls between the full national team's second and third One Day Internationals against England.
The Pools
Pool A
Australia
Sri Lanka
Zimbabwe
Canada
Pool B
South Africa
England
Nepal
Papua New Guinea
Pool C
India
New Zealand
Bangladesh
Scotland
Pool D
West Indies
Pakistan
Ireland
Uganda
