Icc Announces Schedule For Champions Trophy

Lily

B.R
Staff member
ICC ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR CHAMPIONS TROPHY


Islamabad March 23:
The International Cricket Council on Saturday announced the schedule for this year's Champions Trophy tournament, with host Pakistan meeting the West Indies in the opening game on Sept. 11.
Defending champion Australia, which postponed a previous tour to Pakistan earlier this month because of security fears, will play its first Group A match against India. ``The schedule of the tournament was approved by the ICC Board in Dubai earlier this week,'' ICC communication officer Samiul Hasan told The Associated Press.
The top eight teams in the ICC rankings are placed in two groups with leaders in each group qualifying for the semifinals. Australia, India, Pakistan and the West Indies are in Group A while South Africa, New Zealand and England form Group B.
A four-member ICC delegation checked the three venues at Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi, Hasan said. An independent security assessment team will visit Pakistan in early June. As compared to the 2006 tournament in India, where 21 matches were played over 29 days, 15 matches will be played in 17 days this year.
The first semifinal will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sept. 24, while Rawalpindi will host the second semifinal on Sept. 25.

Lahore will host the September 28 final.

Schedule:

_ Sept. 11: Pakistan v West Indies, Lahore.

_ Sept. 12 New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Karachi.

_ Sept. 13: Australia v India, Lahore.

_ Sept. 14: England v Sri Lanka, Karachi.

_ Sept. 15: South Africa v New Zealand, Rawalpindi.

_ Sept. 16: West Indies v India, Karachi.

_ Sept. 17: Pakistan v Australia, Rawalpindi

_ Sept. 18: South Africa v Sri Lanka, Lahore.

_ Sept. 19: England v New Zealand, Rawalpindi.

_ Sept. 20: Pakistan v India, Lahore.

_ Sept. 21: Australia v West Indies, Karachi; England v South Africa, Rawalpindi.

_ Sept. 24: 1st semifinal, Karachi.

_ Sept. 25: 2nd semifinal, Rawalpindi.

_ Sept. 28: Final, Lahore.


Source : Punjab Mail Online
 
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