ICC releases revised schedule of Champions Trophy
KARACHI: The International Cricket Council Wednesday announced a revised schedule for September's Champions Trophy in Pakistan after Rawalpindi was excluded from the list of venues.
The Champions Trophy cricket tournament will kick-off with hosts Pakistan facing off against runners-up West Indies on September 12 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
India will take on defending champions Australia at Karachi on September 13 in their first match under revised fixture for Champions Trophy tournament. India and Pakistan will meet only in their last group match on September 20.
The new schedule was Tuesday sent to all participating nations after Pakistan Cricket Board and International Cricket Council agreed to drop Rawalpindi as one of three venues for the eight-nation tournament.
Lahore and Karachi will host semi-finals while the final will be staged in Lahore on September 28 with reserve day on 29th, as per changed schedule. However, schedule for warm-up matches was yet to be confirmed.
India are placed in Group A alongside defending champions Australia, Pakistan & West Indies while Group B comprises South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka & England.
League Matches:
Sept 10: ICC Awards ceremony, Lahore
Sept 12: Pakistan v West Indies, Lahore
Sept 13: Australia v India, Karachi
Sept 14: Sri Lanka v England, Lahore
Sept 14: South Africa v New Zealand, Karachi
Sept 15: Pakistan v Australia, Karachi
Sept 16: South Africa v Sri Lanka, Lahore
Sept 17: England v New Zealand, Lahore
Sept 18: West Indies v India, Karachi
Sept 19: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Lahore
Sept 20: India v Pakistan, Karachi
Semi-Finals:
Sept 24: Semifinal 1: A2 vs B1, Karachi
Sept 25: Reserve Day
Sept 26: Semifinal 2: A1 vs B2, Lahore
Sept 27: Reserve Day
Final:
Sept 28: Final, Lahore Sept 29: Reserve Day.
September 29 - reserve day for final
Group A: Australia, Pakistan, India and West Indies
Group B: England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.