ICC T20 World Cup: India to face SA in opener; here’s the full schedule

NEW DELHI: Former champions India will square off against South Africa in their opening match of the ICC men’s T20 World Cup to be held in Australia next year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Tuesday.nnIndia’s opening match will take place in Perth on October 24 while the tournament will get underway from October 18 with qualifying rounds in South Geelong, according to the fixtures.nnIndia, who lost in the semifinals to eventual winners West Indies in the previous edition in 2016, face a qualifying team in their next Super 12 match in Melbourne on October 29. India won the event’s inaugural edition in 2007.nnThe men’s competition, from October 18 to November 15, will feature several qualifying matches before hosts Australia take on world’s top-ranked Pakistan in the first match of the tournament-proper on October 24 under lights at the Sydney Cricket Ground.nnICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “Whenever we host an event in Australia we know we can guarantee the one billion cricket fans around the world a great show.nn”The world’s best players. Outstanding venues. Noisy, passionate, knowledgeable fans. Exciting cricket. This is the perfect combination for a T20 World Cup and in 2020 we go one step further with two T20 World Cups in one year.”nnDefending champions West Indies play their first Super 12 group stage match against New Zealand on October 25 in Melbourne.nnAustralia, Pakistan, the West Indies, New Zealand and two qualifiers make up Group 1 of the Super 12 stage. India, England, South Africa and Afghanistan and two qualifiers make up the other group.nnThe first semi-final will take place at the SCG on November 11, with Adelaide Oval hosting the second semi-final the following night.nnThe final will be played at the MCG on November 15.nnThe tournament will be held in eight Australian cities and 13 venues.nnICC T20 World Cup Australia 2020 Local Organising Committee CEO Nick Hockley said: “We’re so excited to be able to let fans all around Australia and the world know when and where their teams will play, so they can start planning now.nnICC men’s T20 World Cup Schedule:nnFirst round:nn18 October, 2020: Sri Lanka v Qualifier A3, Kardinia Park, South Geelong;nnQualifier A2 v Qualifier A4, Kardinia Park, South Geelongnn19 October, 2020: Bangladesh v Qualifier B3, Bellerive Oval, Tasmania; Qualifier B2 v Qualifier B4, Bellerive Oval, Tasmaniann20 October, 2020: Qualifier A3 v Qualifier A4, Kardinia Park, South Geelong; Sri Lanka v Qualifier A2, Kardinia Park, South Geelongnn21 October, 2020: Qualifier B3 v Qualifier B4, Bellerive Oval, Tasmania; Bangladesh v Qualifier B2, Bellerive Oval, Tasmaniann22 October, 2020: Qualifier A2 v Qualifier A3, Kardinia Park, South Geelong; Sri Lanka v Qualifier A4, Kardinia Park, South Geelongnn23 October, 2020: Qualifier B2 v Qualifier B3, Bellerive Oval, Tasmania; Bangladesh v Qualifier B4, Bellerive Oval, TasmaniannSuper 12:nn24 October, 2020: Australia v Pakistan, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney; India v South Africa, Perth Stadium, Perthnn25 October, 2020: A1 v B2, Blundstone Arena, Hobart; New Zealand v Windies, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbournenn26 October, 2020: Afghanistan v A2, Perth Stadium, Perth; England v B1, Perth Stadium, Perthnn27 October, 2020: New Zealand v B2, Blundstone Arena, Hobartnn28 October, 2020: Afghanistan v B1, Perth Stadium, Perth; Australia v Windies, Perth Stadium, Perthnn29 October, 2020: Pakistan v A1, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney; India v A2, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (7.00pm)nn30 October, 2020: England v South Africa, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney; Windies v B2, Perth Stadium, Perthnn31 October, 2020: Pakistan v New Zealand, Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane Australia v A1, Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbanenn1 November, 2020: South Africa v Afghanistan, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide; India v England, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbournenn2 November, 2020: A2 v B1, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney; New Zealand v A1, Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbanenn3 November, 2020: Pakistan v Windies, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide; Australia v B2, Adelaide Oval, Adelaidenn4 November, 2020: England v Afghanistan, Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbanenn5 November, 2020: South Africa v A2, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide; India v B1, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (7.00pm)nn6 November, 2020: Pakistan v B2, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne; Australia v New Zealand, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbournenn7 November, 2020: England v A2, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide; Windies v A1, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbournenn8 November, 2020: South Africa v B1, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney; India v Afghanistan, Sydney Cricket Ground, SydneynnSemi-finals:nn11 November, 2020 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydneynn12 November, 2020 Adelaide Oval, AdelaidennFinal: 15 November, 2020 Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne.nnSource: Press Trust of India