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Untitled Document
 ICC announces Champions Trophy schedule
23rd Mar 2008 10:01 IST
Agencies
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 September 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 said.
The top eight teams in the ICC rankings are placed in two groups with leaders in each group qualifying for the semi-finals.
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 semi-final will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi on September 24, while Rawalpindi will host the second semi-final on September 25.
Lahore will host the September 28 final. |
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