India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a group stage
encounter of the ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai on October 24, the International
Cricket Council confirmed on Tuesday.
The tournament, which kicks off in the UAE and Oman on
October 17, will see the final being played in Dubai on November 14 (Sunday),
with November 15 (Monday) acting as the reserve day.
The tournament will begin with the Round 1 Group B
encounter between hosts Oman and Papua New Guinea on October 17, with Scotland
and Bangladesh, the other teams in Group B, clashing in an evening match.
Ireland, Netherlands, Sri Lanka and Namibia -- making up
Group A -- will be in action in Abu Dhabi the next day, with Round 1 matches
running till October 22. The top two teams in each group will proceed to the
Super12 stage of the tournament, beginning on October 23.
The Super12 stage -- the second round of the tournament
-- will get underway in Abu Dhabi on October 23, with the Group 1 contest
between Australia and South Africa. This will be followed up with an evening
clash between England and West Indies in Dubai.
Old rivals England and Australia will lock horns in Dubai
on October 30. The group will conclude on November 6 with matches between
Australia and West Indies in Abu Dhabi, and England and South Africa in
Sharjah.
Group 2 will commence with a heavyweight clash between
India and Pakistan in Dubai on October 24. Pakistan then take on New Zealand in
Sharjah on October 26, in a tough start for the 2009 champions. Afghanistan
begin their campaign on October 25 at Sharjah, taking on the winners of Group B
from the first round.
The group will conclude on November 8, with India taking
on the second-placed Round 1 qualifier from Group A.
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The first semifinal will be held in Abu Dhabi on November
10, while the second semifinal will be hosted by Dubai on November 11. Both
semifinals have reserve days.
The final of the tournament will take place in Dubai on
November 14, with November 15 acting as the reserve day.