CT groups announced

The groups for the ICC Champions Trophy in India this year have been announced, placing the host nation in the opening match against England. Also grouped with India and England are world champions Australia, while Group B is made up of New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan.

The remaining two places will be made up by the top teams in a qualifying tournament played directly before the Champions Trophy kicks off in October. Among the teams competing for the remaining places are the current Trophy holders – the West Indies. They will compete with Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, two of whom will miss the main tournament entirely.

The preliminary tournament kicks off on October 7, while the main body of the CT starts on the 15th, when India meet England at Jaipur.

Schedule

Preliminaries:
Oct 7: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Mohali
Oct 8: West Indies v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad
Oct 10: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad
Oct 11: West Indies v Bangladesh, Jaipur
Oct 13: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe, Jaipur
Oct 14: Sri Lanka v West Indies, Mumbai

Group stage:
Oct 15: India v England, Jaipur
Oct 16: New Zealand v South Africa, Mumbai
Oct 17: Pakistan v Qualifier 1, Jaipur
Oct 18: Australia v Qualifier 2, Mumbai
Oct 20: New Zealand v Q1, Mumbai
Oct 21: Australia v England, Jaipur
Oct 24: South Africa v Q1, Ahmedabad
Oct 25: New Zealand v Pakistan, Mohali
Oct 26: India v Q2, Ahmedabad
Oct 27: Pakistan v South Africa, Mohali
Oct 28: England v Q2, Ahmedabad
Oct 29: India v Australia, Mohali
Nov 1: 1st Semifinal – A1 v B2, Mohali
Nov 2: 2nd Semifinal – B1 v A2, Jaipur
Nov 5: Final, Mumbai