DHAKA: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced match schedules of the ICC World Twenty20 2014, which will be staged in Bangladesh from March 16 to April 6.
 
Defending Champions West Indies will kick start their campaign against ICC World Cup 2011 champions India. West Indies won the title last year in Colombo.
 
On the same day, Pakistan will face Australia. Australia has not won the ICC World T20 title till date.
 
The format of the tournament has been changed as there has been an increase in teams from 12 to 16.
 
ICC said in a statement, “The first round of the men’s event will include eight sides that will be divided into two groups of four teams each, with the table-toppers progressing to the Super 10 stage.”
 
“In the first round, Group A will feature host Bangladesh alongside three teams that will qualify from the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2013, to be staged from 15 to 30 November. Group B will include Zimbabwe, which will be joined by another three teams from the upcoming qualifiers. As such, the two groups will be finalised on 30 November,” it added.
 
The Super 10 stage will begin between former champions India and Pakistan in Dhaka on Friday 21 March.
 
The two groups of the Super 10 stage are:
 
Super 10 (S10) Groups (Based on teams’ rankings on the Reliance ICC T20I Team Rankings as on 8 October 2012)

Group 1 – Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Group B Qualifier 1 (Q1B)
 
Group 2 – West Indies, India, Pakistan, Australia, Group A Qualifier 1 (Q1A)
 
According to ICC, “If Bangladesh reaches the Super 10 stage, it will play all its matches in Dhaka, facing the West Indies on 25 March, India on 28 March, Pakistan on 30 March and Australia on 1 April.”
 
The prize money is US$3 million, with the winner receiving US$1.1 million and the losing finalist collecting US$550,000.

Source: cricketcountry.com
BDST: 1310 HRS, OCT 27, 2013
RS/BSK- eic@banglanews24.com