2016 ICC World Twenty20: India, Pakistan in same group, Dharamsala to host clash on 19 March

Mumbai: Arch-rivals India and Pakistan were on Friday placed in the same group for next year’s ICC World Twenty20, setting the stage for a high-voltage clash between the two sides on 19 March in Dharamsala. The ICC on Friday unveiled the groups and schedule of the event, which will be staged across eight venues in India from 8 March to 3 April. The two countries are currently undecided on whether to engage in a bilateral series later in December 2015 owing to political tensions. India will open their campaign against New Zealand on March 15 in Nagpur before taking on Pakistan. India’s other matches will be against the qualifying Group A winners in Bengaluru on 23 March and Australia in Mohali on 27 March. A total of 58 matches, including 35 men’s and 23 women’s games, will be played in the 27-day tournament in Bengaluru, Chennai, Dharamsala, Kolkata, Mohali, Mumbai, Nagpur and New Delhi. [caption id=“attachment_2542046” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] 2016 World T20 launch in Mumbai. BCCI[/caption] New Delhi and Mumbai will host the semi-finals on 30 and 31 March, respectively, while Eden Gardens in Kolkata will be the venue of the 3 April finals. If Pakistan finish second in their group, they’ll play their semi-final clash in Delhi on 30 March, instead on Mumbai, ICC has clarified. Pakistan would avoid playing in Mumbai due to security reasons. ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar, who attended the launch ceremony in Mumbai, said, “India is a country where cricket is a religion and not many places can match the passion for the game like India. I am fully confident that the Board of Control for Cricket in India will deliver an outstanding world cricket event, just like the ICC Cricket World Cups in 1987, 1996 and 2011.” “The ICC and BCCI are fully committed and will work together to make this a memorable event. I invite fans from across the world to witness fast-paced cricketing action on the field and enjoy the hospitality and culture of India, off it.” BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur promised a well-organised World Cup. “We, as hosts, are fully prepared to organise one of the most entertaining spectacles in world cricket. We draw experience from hosting three ICC Cricket World Cups and are ready to make the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 one of the most memorable events. “Our preparations are in full swing, and BCCI and ICC is working together to make it a lifetime experience for the players and the fans. India is a vibrant country – young, full of colour, energy and exuberance - and is very much like the concept of Twenty20 cricket itself. We would encourage everyone involved with the game to experience the best of India,” he said. The women’s semi-finals and final will be followed by the men’s knock-out matches. There is a reserve day for the finals. The men’s event will carry a total prize money of $5.6 million, which is an 86 per cent increase from the 2014 tournament, while the total prize money for the women’s event is $400,000, which is a 122 per cent increase from the Bangladesh event. There have been five different winners of the men’s event while the England women’s team won the inaugural tournament at home in 2009 before Australia won three straight titles in the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2010, 2012 and 2014, respectively. According to the men’s event format, eight sides in two groups of four, will feature in the first round matches with the group winners joining eight sides in the Super 10 stage (two groups of five teams). The top two sides from both the Super 10 Groups will then qualify for the semi-finals. In the women’s event, the 10 sides will be divided into two groups and the top two sides from each group will progress to the semi-finals. The first round matches in 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 a double-header on the opening day on 8 March, Zimbabwe will face Hong Kong in the afternoon match, to be followed by the evening match between Scotland and Afghanistan. Both the matches will be played in Nagpur. The group winners will join Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and host India in the Super 10 stage, which will be played alongside the women’s event from 15 to 28 March. Men’s defending champion Sri Lanka have been placed in Super 10 Group 1 along with South Africa, West Indies, England and the Group B winner. They will open their titledefence against the Group B winner in Kolkata on 17 March, and play West Indies in Bengaluru on 20 March, England in New Delhi on 26 March and South Africa in New Delhi on 28 March. Hosts India, which won the inaugural tournament in South Africa in 2007, are in Super 10 Group 2 along with 2009 winner Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and the Group A winner. Pakistan will take on the Group A winners in Kolkata on 16 March, before locking horns with India. Their remaining two matches will be in Mohali against New Zealand and Australia on 22 and 25 March, respectively. Meanwhile, in the women’s tournament, 2009 champions England are in Group B along with the West Indies, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and will start off against Bangladesh in Bengaluru on 17 March. Their other matches will be against India (22 March in Dharamsala), West Indies (24 March in Dharamsala) and Pakistan (27 March in Chennai). Australia women, who will be bidding to win the title for the fourth straight time, is in Group A along with South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Ireland. Their opening match will be against South Africa (18 March in Nagpur), followed by matches against New Zealand (21 March in Nagpur), Sri Lanka (24 March in New Delhi) and Ireland (24 March in New Delhi). The ICC World Twenty20 trophy was also showcased at the ceremony before its departure to Scotland on 13 December, as part of the Nissan Trophy Tour. The trophy will return to New Delhi on 1 February after visiting 11 countries. PTI