Cricket

2022 T20 World Cup: India, Pakistan to lock horns in their opening encounter

Jeremy Caroll

Australia will start the defence of their Twenty20 World Cup title against New Zealand in Sydney on October 22 in a re-run of last year’s final. The Australians will be hosting the tournament, which starts on Oct. 16 and runs until Nov. 13, for the first time.

There will be fireworks on Sunday, October 23 at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground as age-old rivals India and Pakistan will clash in their opening encounter of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The Super 12 Group B clash will emotions at their all-time high, as the two sides will hope to get their campaign started on a high, in their quest for for World Cup glory.

The hosts have been drawn in Group 1 of the Super 12 phase of the competition alongside New Zealand, who they defeated in Dubai in November, just as England, Afghanistan, the victors of Group A and runners up in Group B from the first round.

Group 2 will include India, Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh plus the Group B victors and Group A runners-up.

Sixteen countries will compete in the tournament, which will be played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.Sri Lanka and Namibia will go head to head in the first round tournament opener in Geelong on Oct. 16 in Group A, where they will be joined by two qualifiers.

Group B will include the West Indies, Scotland and a further two qualifiers. The final will be played under lights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Nov. 13.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 12 stage.

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said: “T20 is the global growth format for cricket and the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 will play a huge role in inspiring our next generation of players and fans as the world’s best players descend on Australia and showcase the very best of our sport.”

ICC T20 World Cup Local Organising Committee CEO, Michelle Enright said, “The release of the fixtures gives fans the opportunity to start planning their T20 World Cup experience, which is now just 268 days away.”

“By having matches spread across the nation in seven host cities and making tickets accessibly priced, we are hoping as many people as possible will be able to experience the incredible atmosphere that international fans bring to global sporting events, as well as the unique, fast-paced and unpredictable nature of T20 cricket.”

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