ICC World Cup 2015: Pakistan, India to clash on February 15

Rivals drawn in Pool B; hosts Australia, New Zealand to meet in Pool A.

MELBOURNE:

Defending champions India will face off against long-time rivals Pakistan, while World Cup co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have been drawn in the same group for the 2015 tournament, officials said yesterday.

The first match of the prestigious one-day tournament will be held in Christchurch, the New Zealand city devastated by an earthquake in 2011, when the locals take on Sri Lanka on February 14.

Later that day, Australia will face Ashes foes England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground — also the venue for the day-night final match of the flagship tournament of the 50-over game on March 29.

“The 2015 tournament will mark 40 years since the first World Cup in 1975 and that history of great contests and heroes helps make the tournament what it is — the most sought-after prize in our increasingly global game,” said ICC chief executive David Richardson.

“I’m absolutely confident that the success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will further strengthen the status of 50-over cricket as a successful and viable format alongside Tests and Twenty20 Internationals.”

Australia and New Zealand, whose prime ministers attended launches at simultaneous events in Melbourne and Wellington, are grouped with England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and two qualifiers in the contest, held once every four years.

Title-holders India are pooled with Pakistan, South Africa, the West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and one other qualifying team.

“This is one of the biggest events in world sport,” said Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

“It will help attract cricket fans from around the globe and work as an initiative to  promote Australia and our close friend New Zealand internationally.”

Australia will stage 26 games at grounds in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. New Zealand will host 23 games in seven cities, including Christchurch where international cricket is set to return for the first time since the 6.3-magnitude quake which killed 185 people in 2011.

The tournament will also visit the cities of Auckland, Dunedin, Hamilton, Napier, Nelson and Wellington.

The top four sides from each pool will go through to the knockout stage.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said he was encouraged by the draw.

“We’ve had recent success over both Sri Lanka and England in one-dayers, so to face them and a qualifying team in the first three matches is certainly an encouraging draw for us,” he said.

Ireland has already qualified for the event, but the other three other teams will be determined by the ICC World Cricket League Championship 2011-2013 in October. A qualifier will be hosted in New Zealand in January and February 2014.

Pool A

England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Qualifier 2 (TBD), Qualifier 3 (TBD)

Pool B

South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Qualifier 1 (Ireland), Qualifier 4 (TBD)

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2013.

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