ICC T20 World Cup 2021 schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on 24 October

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday announced the schedule for the 2021 T20 World Cup which is being hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Oman and UAE. The ICC event will run from 17 October to 14 November. The tournament will begin with Oman taking on Papua New Guinea in Round 1 of the World Cup on 17 October. The Super 12 stage will begin on 23 October with Australia facing South Africa. India will begin their campaign, against Pakistan, in the Super 12 stage on 24 October. [caption id=“attachment_8680331” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  File image of the T20 World Cup trophy. AFP[/caption] Round 1 consists of two groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will move to the Super 12 stage. Group A of Round 1 includes Ireland, Netherlands and Namibia and Sri Lanka, while Group B consists of Oman, PNG, Scotland and Bangladesh. The eight teams who are already part of the Super 12 stage include England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Afghanistan. West Indies England, Australia and South Africa are part of Group 1 in Super 12 stage and will be joined by the winner of Group A and runner-up of Group B from Round 1. Group 2 includes India and Pakistan, New Zealand and Afghanistan and will be joined by the winner of Group B and runner-up of Group A from Round 1. The groupings: Round 1 Group A: Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands and Namibia Group B: Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Oman (Top two teams from each group advance to Super 12s) Super 12s Group 1: England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, A1 and B2. Group 2: India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, A2 and B1. (Top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals) Complete schedule: Round 1 17 Oct: Oman v Papua New Guinea, Muscat (3:30 pm); Bangladesh v Scotland, Muscat (7:30 pm) 18 Oct: Ireland v Netherlands, Abu Dhabi (3:30 pm); Sri Lanka v Namibia, Abu Dhabi (7:30 pm) 19 Oct: Scotland v Papua New Guinea, Muscat (3:30 pm); Oman v Bangladesh, Muscat (7:30 pm) 20 Oct: Namibia v Netherlands, Abu Dhabi (3:30 pm); Sri Lanka v Ireland, Abu Dhabi (7:30 pm) 21 Oct: Bangladesh v Papua New Guinea, Muscat (3:30 pm); Oman v Scotland, Muscat (7:30 pm) 22 Oct: Namibia v Ireland, Sharjah (3:30 pm); Sri Lanka v Netherlands, Sharjah (7:30 pm) Super 12s 23 Oct: Australia vs South Africa 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi; England vs West Indies 7:30 pm Dubai 24 Oct: A1 vs B2 3:30 pm Sharjah; India vs Pakistan 7:30 pm Dubai 25 Oct: Afghanistan vs B1 7:30 pm Sharjah 26 Oct: South Africa vs West Indies – 3:30 pm Dubai; Pakistan vs New Zealand 7:30 pm Sharjah 27 Oct: England vs B2 – 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi; B1 vs A2 – 7:30 pm Abu Dhabi 28 Oct: Australia vs A1 – 7:30 pm Dubai 29 Oct: West Indies vs B2 – 3:30 pm Sharjah; Afghanistan vs Pakistan – 7:30 pm Dubai 30 Oct: South Africa vs A1 – 3:30 pm Sharjah; England vs Australia – 7:30 pm Dubai 31 Oct: Afghanistan vs A2 – 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi; India vs New Zealand – 7:30 pm Dubai 1 Nov: England vs A1 – 7:30 pm Sharjah 2 Nov: South Africa vs B2 – 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi; Pakistan vs A2 – 7:30 pm Abu Dhabi 3 Nov: New Zealand vs B1 – 3:30 pm Dubai; India vs Afghanistan – 7:30 pm Abu Dhabi 4 Nov: Australia vs B2 – 3:30 pm Dubai; West Indies vs A1 – 7:30 pm Abu Dhabi 5 Nov: New Zealand vs A2 – 3:30 pm Sharjah, Sharjah; India vs B1 – 7:30 pm Dubai 6 Nov: Australia vs West Indies – 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi; England vs South Africa – 7:30 pm Sharjah 7 Nov: New Zealand vs Afghanistan – 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi; Pakistan vs B1 – 7:30 pm Sharjah 8 Nov: India vs A2 – 7:30 pm Dubai Knock-out stage 10 Nov: Semi-final 1 (A1 v B2), Abu Dhabi — 7.30 pm 11 Nov: Semi-final 2 (B1 v A2), Dubai — 7.30 pm 14 Nov: Final, Dubai — 7.30 pm