Sri Lanka in group ‘C’ of T20 World cup
Hosts Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe have been placed in the
same preliminary group (Group C) for next year’s World Twenty20
tournament here, the sport’s governing body said on Wednesday.
Australia, West Indies and a qualifier are drawn in group B and
Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh in group D.
Defending champions England and India are in group A.
A yet-to-be determined qualifier will be the third team in group A,
the International Cricket Council announced at the tournament launch in
Colombo.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Eights
round, which will also be contested in two pools.
The first two in each pool will advance to the semi-finals.
The two-yearly tournament in cricket’s shortest format will be played
from September 18 to October 7, with Hambantota holding three matches,
Pallekele nine and capital Colombo 15.
The Premadasa stadium in Colombo will hold the semi-finals on Oct 4
and 5 and the final on Oct 7.
The two qualifiers will be determined through a separate competition
between non-Test nations to be held in the United Arab Emirates from
March 13-24.
The eight-nation women’s tournament will run from Sept 26 to Oct 7
with the league matches in Galle, and the semi-finals and final in
Colombo on the same days and at the same venue as the men’s knock-out
matches.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat was confident the tournament will
be as successful as the three previous editions in South Africa (2007),
England (2009) and the West Indies (2010).
Marquee event
“The ICC World Twenty20 is now a marquee event in Twenty20 cricket
where nations face each other for the most coveted title in the shortest
format of the game,” Lorgat said.
“Nothing beats nation-versus-nation contests and when these battles
take place in the newest, sharpest and quickest form of the game, you
can feel the excitement in fans.
“Following the legacies and success of the World Cup, I am confident
that Sri Lanka will deliver another world-class event.” Lorgat said it
was significant the men’s and women’s knock-out games will be played on
the same dates at one venue.
“Those match days provide a great setting for both the men’s and
women’s game and we remain committed to showcase women’s cricket in this
way, which is unique in the world of team sports,” he said. |