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| Monday, 16 June 2003 |
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ICC champions trophy in England next year Sri Lanka drawn into pool 'C'with England and B'desh by Dinesh Weerawansa Defending joint champions Sri Lanka has been drawn in Pool 'C', along with England and Bangladesh for the ICC Champions trophy tournament (Mini World Cup), to be worked off in England next year. The initial format and arrangements of the ICC Champions trophy has already been agreed upon by the Board of Directors of the ICC Development (International) Limited, the operation wing of the world's cricket governing body - the International Cricket Council (ICC). The tournament schedule and details have been included for final green light in agenda item 9.3 for the ICC's IDI Board meeting scheduled for Friday (20) at Lord's. Sri Lanka's two league round Pool 'C' matches will be against Bangladesh on September 12 and against the hosts England on September 19 next year. Earlier, the 12-nation ICC Champions trophy mini World Cup will commence on September 9, 2004 with England playing Bangladesh in the 'curtain raiser' game. A total of three match venues will be used, as opposed to the two venues used at the 2002 previous tournament in Sri Lanka. It is believed that the workload on just two venues would be too great at that time of the year in England. The three venues in England are yet to be identified by Lord's is certainly going to be the most preferred venue for the final. World champions Australia have been ranked No.1 and would play in Pool 'A' along with New Zealand and Zimbabwe. South Africa is ranked No.2 and Sri Lanka No.3. Besides the ten Test playing nations and ICC's one international status team Kenya, the only other team eligible to take part in the 12-nation tournament will be Holland. The 12 teams have been drawn in to four groups of three each and the countries have been ranked as at October 31 last year, on the ICC one day international championship points standings. The teams will play on a league basis within their group. The league matches will be played from September 9 to 20 next year and the top team each of the four pools will qualify for the semi-finals scheduled for September 22 and 24 with the final on September 26 in England next year. Sri Lanka, which emerged joint champions with neighbors India at the last ICC Mini World Cup held in Sri Lanka last year after their rain hit final at Premadasa Stadium ended in a no decision. Sri Lanka's joint defending champions India has been drawn in Pool 'D' along with Pakistan and Holland. Interestingly, the 2004 ICC Mini World Cup would see a shown down between arch rivals India and Pakistan on September 20 next year in the last of the 12 'quarter' league round matches. Reserve days are required given the potential for variable weather in England in September. The inclusion of reserve days in the schedule prevents the tournament from being shortened in length. As a further improvement to the schedule from the previous ICC Champions trophy in Sri Lanka last year, the official function would be held prior to the commencement of the tournament to allow a team to depart England immediately after it has been eliminated from the 12-nation mega event. |
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