Malaysian Cricket Association president H R H Tunku Imran said: "The ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup is the leading development tournament for international cricket and it is an honour to be the first non-Test-playing country to host the event.
"It gives Malaysia, as a developing cricketing country, the opportunity to showcase the fruits of our labour through the aggressive development programmes that we have undertaken. Cricket as a sport epitomizes the strong traits that we seek to nurture through the development programmes as it breeds physical and mental resilience and team spirit while at the same time developing natural leaders."
Special guest Mr Azizan Nordin from the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism added: "Just as important as playing cricket is the fact that while competing against each other, I am sure new friendships will be made.
"This is made so much more meaningful by the very fact that each and every one of you will have the opportunity to meet new friends from different cultures from different parts of the world. This will foster greater understanding among each other as well as promoting greater friendships that, hopefully, will last a lifetime."
Image: Organising chairman P Krishanasamy and ICC CEO Malcolm Speed display the Malaysian and ICC World Cup event flags.
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