Important information about the next International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup has been revealed. The complete official schedule will be announced on November 25.
According to media reports, twenty (20) teams will participate in this upcoming tournament. They will be divided into four groups, with five teams in each group. The top two teams from every group will advance to the Super 8 stage.
Pakistan and India are expected to be placed in the same group. This increases anticipation for a high-voltage match between the traditional rivals. This match is tentatively scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. This group is also likely to include the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA.
The tournament is set to be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. India will host matches in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. In Sri Lanka, matches will be held in Colombo and Kandy.
Other groups are also being formed. Joint host Sri Lanka’s group will likely feature Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Oman. Another possible group includes England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Italy. The fourth group is expected to be completed with the possible inclusion of South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE, and Canada.
Pakistan will play all its group matches in Sri Lanka. Ahmedabad has been chosen as the venue for the final. However, if Pakistan reaches the final, the match will be shifted to Colombo. Similarly, the semi-finals are proposed for Mumbai and Kolkata. The final venues depend on the participating teams; if Pakistan plays a semi-final, it will also be held in Sri Lanka.
The official ICC schedule announcement will confirm all these details. Cricket fans are already highly excited, especially about the news of the India-Pakistan match.