KUALA LUMPUR: It will be a big boost for cricket in the country when Malaysia host the Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup in four different venues from Jan 18-Feb 2 next year.
And Malaysia hope to be involved when cricket make its Olympic debut in in 2028, Los Angeles.
Sixteen teams will feature in the T20 World Cup. Debutants Malaysia are drawn in the Group of Death in Group A with defending champions India, Sri Lanka and West Indies.
Malaysia's matches will be played at the Bayuemas Oval in Pandamaran, Klang.
Group B, at the Johor Cricket Academy Oval, comprises England, Ireland, Pakistan and the United States.
Group C, at the Borneo Cricket Ground in Kuching, consists of New Zealand, Nigeria, Samoa and South Africa.
Australia, Bangladesh, Scotland and one Asian qualifier are in Group D at UKM Cricket Ground in Bangi.
The Malaysian team have been training under Dutch coach Job Van Bunge since January.
Malaysian Cricket Association president Iqbal Ali said it will be great exposure for the Malaysian team, playing against the world's top teams.
"Hosting the World Cup will help promote the sport throughout the country.
"Cricket is the second biggest sport followed and watched by people in the world. And I hope that RTM will show the matches live so that people in Malaysia and around the world will be able to follow closely and enjoy interesting and competitive World Cup matches.
"What is important to us is the impact of cricket after the World Cup which will help promote the sport among schoolchildren and youngsters in the country.
"We want more youngsters to take up cricket, which will be an Olympics sport in 2028.
"We hope our players will give a good fight in the group stage despite us being in Group of Death against world champions," said Iqbal.
In preparation for the World Cup, the Malaysia team played a series of matches with Thailand's Under-19 team in Johor in September, and they are now in Bangkok for another series of matches until Nov 2.