ICC World T20 2016 schedules announced; India to take on Pakistan

12/11/2015

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced the groups and schedule for the 2016 ICC World Twenty20, which will be held from March 8 to April 3 across eight venues in India. The host nation is in Super 10 Group 2 along with Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and the Group A winner, and the marquee clash between the India and Pakistan will take on place on March 19 in Dharmasala.

A total of 58 tournament matches, including 35 men’s matches and 23 women’s matches, will be played in the 27-day tournament held across Bengaluru, Chennai, Dharamsala, Kolkata, Mohali, Mumbai, New Delhi and Nagpur. New Delhi and Mumbai will host the semi-finals on 30th and 31st March, respectively, while Eden Gardens in Kolkata will be the venue of the final on April 3. If Pakistan qualifies for the semi-finals, then they will play their match at Delhi and other semi-final will be held at Mumbai.The women’s semi-finals and final will be followed by the men’s knock-out matches.

In the men’s format, the top eight teams from the ICC T20 International Championship rankings will automatically qualify for the Super 10 stage (two groups of five teams). The other two spots in the Super 10 stage will be decided between the eight teams, who will compete in the first round. Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Oman qualified for the first round from the 2015 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.

BREAKING: The #WT20 schedule has been announced https://t.co/xnahaSdXAD
— ICC (@ICC) December 11, 2015

The first round of the men’s event will take place in Dharamsala and Nagpur from 8-13 March and will feature Bangladesh, Netherlands, Ireland, debutant Oman (all in Group A), Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong and Afghanistan (all in Group B). In the first match of the tournament, Zimbabwe will face Hong Kong in the afternoon match at Nagpur and it will be followed by the match between Scotland and Afghanistan.

In the Super 10 stage, defending champions Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, England and the Group B winner will feature in Group 1, while Group 2 will contain hosts India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and the Group A winner.

India will launch its campaign in Nagpur against New Zealand on 15 March, while it will go head to head with Pakistan in Dharamsala on 19 March. India's other matches will be against the Group A winner in Bengaluru on 23 March and Australia in Mohali on 27 March.

Here are the official #WT20 fixtures for all 16 Men's Teams https://t.co/k6KdszX6EU pic.twitter.com/wiYUD7Wnu5
— ICC (@ICC) December 11, 2015

In the women’s format, India are in Group B along with England, West Indies, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Group A contains Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Ireland.

Here are the official #WT20 fixtures for all 10 Women's Teams #WT20 Website LIVE now - https://t.co/VxRoc5tWZA pic.twitter.com/2Bln2kJCue
— ICC (@ICC) December 11, 2015

Men’s First round (group winners to progress to second round)

Group A – Bangladesh, Netherlands, Ireland and Oman

Group B – Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong and Afghanistan

Second round groups

Super 10 Group 1 – Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, England and winner group B (Q1B)

Super 10 Group 2 – India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and winner group A (Q1A)

Women’s

Group A – Australia (A1), South Africa (A2), New Zealand (A3), Sri Lanka (A4) and Ireland (A5)

Group B – England (B1), West Indies (B2), India (B3), Pakistan (B4) and Bangladesh (B5)