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Pakistan are to open their defence of the ICC World Twenty20 when they take on Bangladesh on Saturday 1st May 2010 in St. Lucia after the tournament fixtures were released earlier today.
Reigning women's champions England start their campaign against Australia on 5th May in St. Kitts.
Group A: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia
Group B: Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Zimbabwe
Group C: South Africa, India, Qualifier 1
Group D: West Indies, England, Qualifier 2
Women's Group A: England, Australia, West Indies, South Africa
Women's Group B: New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dr. Julian R Hunte said: “The ICC World Twenty20 has proven a successful and riveting event and the West Indies Cricket Board is pleased to host the third edition of this tournament next year.
“We look forward to it being even more spectacular than the previous ones and invite you to join us in the Caribbean.”
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “We have enjoyed two hugely successful events in this form of the game, first in 2007 in South Africa and last month in England, and I am certain next year’s action in the Caribbean will maintain, if not surpass, the successes of those previous global Twenty20 tournaments.
“One measure of success will be to fill the venues and to try to achieve this we have worked hard with the West Indies Cricket Board to ensure the ticket prices are extremely competitive.
"In Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts and St Lucia we have four outstanding venues, something that was shown in 2007 when they hosted matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup, and we know that West Indian spectators enjoy the format as they have already embraced Twenty20 at domestic level.
“We also want to ensure spectators are able to enjoy the tournament and we will do everything we can to ensure the event is in keeping with the relaxed atmosphere in which people watch cricket in the Caribbean.
“I’m delighted we have retained the men’s and women’s tournaments in one event with the respective semi-finals and finals being played on the same days at the same venues. This will again provide women’s cricket with a great platform to showcase the talents of the top players.
“What I am looking forward to is another short, sharp tournament with 42 men’s and women’s matches over 17 days in true nation-versus-nation action and it should again be an outstanding and exciting showpiece,” he added.
ICC World Twenty20 Tournament Director Dr Ernest Hilaire said: “We have worked diligently to ensure that the ticket prices for the ICC World Twenty20 2010 are as competitive as possible and I think fans will agree that they are.
“I believe we will meet our primary objective of hosting sold-out matches in a truly Caribbean atmosphere.”
© Cricket World 2009
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