India will start their campaign against South Africa on October 24 in Perth as ICC on Tuesday morning announced the schedule for Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 which begins from October 18 in Australia. India have been placed in Pool B along with South Africa, England and Afghanistan. Pool A comprises of defending champions West Indies, hosts Australia, Pakistan and New Zealand.
The Groupings
Based on ICC T20I Rankings till the end of 2018, eight teams top-ranked teams – Pakistan, India, England, Australian, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies and Afganistan – have ensured direct qualification and have been placed in two pools. The remaining four spots for the Super 12 will be decided after the First Round.
The No. 9 and 10 ranked teams Sri Lanka (Group A) and Bangladesh(Group B) have earned automatic qualification for the First Round. They will be joined by six more teams (three each in two groups) based on the results of the World T20 Qualifiers to be played later this year.
Two top teams from each group of the First Round will join the top eight teams to complete the Super 12.
Important matches
The opening day of the men’s T20 World Cup will feature 2014 champions Sri Lanka in First Round action at Kardinia Park, Geelong on 18 October 2020, as they begin their campaign to progress to the Super 12 stage.
Men’s defending champions, the Windies, will start their title defence when they clash with New Zealand on Sunday 25 November at the MCG. India’s first match of the men’s tournament will be on Saturday 24 October against South Africa at Perth Stadium. This contest will follow the Australia-Pakistan opening match in Sydney, marking a spectacular opening night for the men’s Super 12 stage.
Semi-final and Final
The final of the Men’s T20 World Cup will be played on November 15 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Sydney and Adelaide respectively will host the first and second semi-finals of the tournament on November 11 and November 12.
The total of 45 matches between 16 teams will be played across 7 venues in Australia.
Facts to remember
Pakistan (2009 champions) and India (inaugural champions in 2007) have been placed in different Pools of Super 12 because they enter the event as the teams ranked one and two in the world respectively, based on ICC T20I Team Rankings at 31 December 2018.
Four teams – two from each group - from the First Round to be played between October 18-23 will advance to the Super 12 stages starting from October 24.
All the matches of the T20 World Cup 2020 will be day/night affairs.
Who said what
ICC T20 World Cup Australia 2020 Local Organising Committee CEO Nick Hockley said: “We’re so excited to be able to let fans all around Australia and the world know when and where their teams will play, so they can start planning now.
“World Cups are all about bringing people together. We know that passionate fans of all generations and cultures will travel from near and far to support their teams and that they will receive the warmest of welcomes in our wonderful host cities.”
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “Whenever we host an event in Australia we know we can guarantee the one billion cricket fans around the world a great show. The world’s best players. Outstanding venues. Noisy, passionate, knowledgeable fans. Exciting cricket. This is the perfect combination for a T20 World Cup and in 2020 we go one step further with two T20 World Cups in one year.
Foot Note
The Women’s World T20 will precede the men’s tournament and will be held in Australia from February 21 to March 8 in 2020.