Nadeem
03-23-2008, 08:19 PM
http://www.geo.tv/news_images/3-23-2008/eng/3-23-2008_15718_l.gif
KARACHI: Hosts Pakistan and 2006 runner-up the West Indies will open the Champions Trophy on September 11, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Saturday.
"The opening match will be between Pakistan and the West Indies while defending champions and top seed Australia will open its campaign against India on 13 September in Lahore," the ICC said.
The sixth edition of the biennial event, regarded as the second biggest competition in cricket after the World Cup, will run from September 11-28.
An ICC advanced delegation is in Pakistan and has assessed facilities and security arrangements in Lahore and Rawalpindi. They assessed the third venue in Karachi today (Sunday).
The eight teams in the 2008 trophy will play on a round-robin basis with two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals.
"As discussed at the ICC Board meeting earlier this week in Dubai, a full independent security assessment of the situation in Pakistan will be conducted in June," the ICC said.
A recent spate of suicide bomb blasts has raised security fears in Pakistan which forced the Australian team to postpone their tour to the troubled country earlier this month. However, the ICC maintained the event will be held in Pakistan subject to security clearance. Sri Lanka is the alternative venue in case Pakistan is not given clearance.
"As compared to the 2006 tournament when 21 matches were played over 29 days, 15 matches will be played in 17 days this year in what is a much shorter, sharper format," the ICC said.
The first semi-final will be played in Karachi on September 24 while Rawalpindi will host the second semi-final the following day.
The final will be held in Lahore on September 28.
The following are the two groups (with seedings in brackets):
Group A: Australia (1), India (4), Pakistan (5), West Indies (8)
Group B: South Africa (2), New Zealand (3), Sri Lanka (6), England (7) Schedule:
11 September Pakistan v West Indies, Lahore
12 September New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Karachi
13 September Australia v India, Lahore
14 September England v Sri Lanka, Karachi
15 September South Africa v New Zealand, Rawalpindi
16 September West Indies v India, Karachi
17 September Pakistan v Australia, Rawalpindi
18 September South Africa v Sri Lanka, Lahore
19 September England v New Zealand, Rawalpindi
20 September Pakistan v India, Lahore
21 September Australia v West Indies, Karachi; England v South Africa, Rawalpindi 24 September First semi-final, Karachi.
25 September Second semi-final, Rawalpindi.
28 September Final, Lahore.
KARACHI: Hosts Pakistan and 2006 runner-up the West Indies will open the Champions Trophy on September 11, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Saturday.
"The opening match will be between Pakistan and the West Indies while defending champions and top seed Australia will open its campaign against India on 13 September in Lahore," the ICC said.
The sixth edition of the biennial event, regarded as the second biggest competition in cricket after the World Cup, will run from September 11-28.
An ICC advanced delegation is in Pakistan and has assessed facilities and security arrangements in Lahore and Rawalpindi. They assessed the third venue in Karachi today (Sunday).
The eight teams in the 2008 trophy will play on a round-robin basis with two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals.
"As discussed at the ICC Board meeting earlier this week in Dubai, a full independent security assessment of the situation in Pakistan will be conducted in June," the ICC said.
A recent spate of suicide bomb blasts has raised security fears in Pakistan which forced the Australian team to postpone their tour to the troubled country earlier this month. However, the ICC maintained the event will be held in Pakistan subject to security clearance. Sri Lanka is the alternative venue in case Pakistan is not given clearance.
"As compared to the 2006 tournament when 21 matches were played over 29 days, 15 matches will be played in 17 days this year in what is a much shorter, sharper format," the ICC said.
The first semi-final will be played in Karachi on September 24 while Rawalpindi will host the second semi-final the following day.
The final will be held in Lahore on September 28.
The following are the two groups (with seedings in brackets):
Group A: Australia (1), India (4), Pakistan (5), West Indies (8)
Group B: South Africa (2), New Zealand (3), Sri Lanka (6), England (7) Schedule:
11 September Pakistan v West Indies, Lahore
12 September New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Karachi
13 September Australia v India, Lahore
14 September England v Sri Lanka, Karachi
15 September South Africa v New Zealand, Rawalpindi
16 September West Indies v India, Karachi
17 September Pakistan v Australia, Rawalpindi
18 September South Africa v Sri Lanka, Lahore
19 September England v New Zealand, Rawalpindi
20 September Pakistan v India, Lahore
21 September Australia v West Indies, Karachi; England v South Africa, Rawalpindi 24 September First semi-final, Karachi.
25 September Second semi-final, Rawalpindi.
28 September Final, Lahore.