UAE to host ICC World T20 qualifiers in March

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced the match schedule and unveiled the event logo of the ICC World Twenty20 2012, which will be staged in Sri Lanka from September 18 to October 7.

Reigning champions England will start its title defence at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on September 21, against one of the two qualifiers for the tournament.

Stuart Broad’s side will complete its opening group commitments two days later against 2007 champion India at the same venue.

Australia, chasing the one global trophy to have eluded them, will go head-to-head with the other qualifier in Colombo on 19 September, part of a double-header that also features India and a qualifier.

The ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers  will be staged in the UAE from March 13-24.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “It will be exciting to see who eventually qualifies. In 2010, Afghanistan made history by qualifying to play on the global stage which was great reward for them and the development of the game.”

Sri Lanka, which lost to England in the semifinal of last year’s tournament in the West Indies, will open its campaign against Zimbabwe under lights in Hambantota on the first day of the tournament (September 18) before taking on South Africa at the same venue on September 22.

If Sri Lanka reaches the Super Eight, it will then go on to play in Pallekele before moving to Colombo if it qualifies for the knock-out stage.

Pakistan, which won the 2009 tournament in England, has been grouped with New Zealand and Bangladesh, and will play its matches in Pallekele on September 23 and 25 respectively. Pallekele will also host the New Zealand-Bangladesh match on September 21.

If everything goes according to pre-tournament seedings then Pakistan and India will lock horns in a Super Eight match in Colombo on September 30.

The group stages of the women’s tournament will take place in Galle where host Sri Lanka will take on one of the tournament qualifiers on September 26, the first day of women’s matches. On the same date, last year’s losing finalist New Zealand will meet the West Indies.

A total of 42 matches, including 27 men’s and 15 women’s matches, will be played over 20 days at four venues – R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Pallekele, Hambantota and Galle, with R Premadasa Stadium hosting the finals on October 7.

Lorgat said: “The ICC World Twenty20 is now a marquee event in Twenty20 cricket where nations challenge each other for the most coveted title in the shortest format of the game.

“The previous editions in South Africa, England and the West Indies have smartly established the ICC World Twenty20 as a major global event that is not only exciting and entertaining but embraces both men’s and women’s cricket.

“Nothing beats nation-versus-nation contests and when these battles take place in the newest, sharpest and quickest form of the game then you can feel the excitement in fans.

“We all know how passionate and loyal the Sri Lankan public is towards our great sport and we will ensure the tickets are affordable so that they can enjoy the event.

“Following the legacies and success of the recent ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, I am confident that the hosts, Sri Lanka, will deliver a world class event.

“I am happy that the men’s and women’s semifinals and finals will once again be played on the same days at the same venues. Those match-days provide a great setting for both the men’s and women’s game and we remain committed to showcase women’s cricket in this way, which is unique in the world of team sports.”

The event logo – ‘Modern Spin’ – was also unveiled by Lorgat.

Designed by Australian creative firm Witekite, the logo incorporates and amalgamates the rounded look of the Sinhalese script. The letter ‘T’ forms a player which leads into the ‘2’ while the ‘0’ incorporates a cricket ball.

The colours of the logo, with strong reds and oranges, are seen in both nature and Sri Lankan culture and arts, with their presence in the logo giving them a cricket ‘spin’. It has a natural sense of movement due to its fluid lines and forward angles.

Tickets are planned to go on sale to the public from March 1 and will be available via website and box office sales in Sri Lanka. The ICC and Sri Lanka Cricket will be appointing a company to manage the ticket sales process and will jointly determine a sales policy that will ensure equitable access to purchase tickets for local and overseas fans alike.

The ICC tour and travel website (www.icctravel.net) which will go live on October 1, will feature the details of all forthcoming ICC events and will be updated regularly with the contact details for all official travel agents. They will be the only outlets through which travel packages to ICC events will be legitimately available.

Match schedule:

Preliminary league:
Group A: England, India, Qualifier 2
Group B: Australia, West Indies, Qualifier 1
Group C: Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Group D: Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh

Schedule:
Sept 18: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Hambantota
Sept 19: Australia v Q1, Colombo
: India v Q2, Colombo
Sept 20: South Africa v Zimbabwe, Hambantota
Sept 21: New Zealand v Bangladesh, Pallekele
: England v Q2, Colombo
Sept 22: Sri Lanka v South Africa, Hambantota
: Australia v West Indies, Colombo
Sept 23: Pakistan v New Zealand, Pallekele
: England v India, Colombo
Sept 24: West Indies v Q1, Colombo
Sept 25: Pakistan v Bangladesh, Pallekele

Super-Eights
Group one: A1, B2, C1, D2
Group two: A2, B1, C2, D1

Schedule:
Sept 27: C1 v D2, Pallekele
: A1 v B2, Pallekele
Sept 28: D1 v C2, Colombo
: B1 v A2, Colombo
Sept 29: A1 v D2, Pallekele
: C1 v B2, Pallekele
Sept 30: B1 v C2, Colombo
: D1 v A2, Colombo
Oct 1  : B2 v D2, Pallekele
: A1 v C1, Pallekele
Oct 2  : B1 v D1, Colombo
: A2 v C2, Colombo

Semi-finals
Oct 4  : Group one winners v Group two runners-up, Colombo
Oct 5  : Group one runners-up v Group two champions, Colombo

Final
Oct 7: Final, Colombo.

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