The build-up to the International Cricket Council's Under 19t World Cup entered its final phase with the 16 team competition's official launch in Dunedin, .
The ICC's chief executive Haroon Lorgat says the competition's been a launching pad for future stars such as Ross Taylor, who captained New Zealand in 2002.
Lorgat says South Africa's opener Hashim Amla also played in the 2002 tournament in New Zealand and another South African, the fast bowler Wayne Parnell, played last year in Malaysia.
He says New Zealand Cricket has an excellent track record of hosting big tournaments,
The World Cup starts on January 15 and runs for two weeks wioth four groups based at around Christchurch, Queenstown, Palmerston North and Napier.
