T20 World Cup 2010 Schedule

Fixture and schedule of ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2010 have already been announced. Now, fans around the world are searching about it. This twenty20 cricket tournament, which is organized by ICC, is scheduled to start from 30^th April and it will finish on May 16, 2010. West Indies will host the competition this year. This is going to be the third edition of this tournament.

After beginning in 2007, ICC Twenty20 World Cup takes place after every two years. This year, it is going to be held only 10 months after the last one. The scheduled ICC Champions Trophy, which is the one-day international tournament, was supposed to be held in the West Indies in 2010. However, it has been revised to a Twenty20 format. This decision was taken so that the ICC Champions Trophy couldn’t mix up with the same format tournament in the following year. Champions Trophy has been rescheduled for September next year. You should know that 2008 Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan was postponed due to security concerns and there was a need to correct the international cricketing tournament calendar. 2008 Champions Trophy tournament was arranged in South Africa later of the last year because of this problem.

In the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2010, we can see the similar schedule for both men’s and women’s tournament. Both men’s and women’s semi-final and final will take place on the same day at the same venue.

The inaugural T20 World Cup was played in South Africa in 2007. India became the first team to have won the champions trophy. Just after two years, the second edition of T20 World Cup took place in England. That time, Pakistan won the trophy. It is expected that any South Asian country will win the trophy this year.

This year, twelve countries will be taking part in the Twenty20 World Cup 2010. They will be divided into four groups. Each group consists of three teams.

Group A-

This is perhaps one of the strongest groups in this tournament. Defending champion Pakistan has been put in this group along with world’s best team, Australia, and daring Bangladesh. It will be tough to predict that which two teams will be qualified for the Super Eight round as two top ranked teams from each group can play in the next round. Bangladeshi cricket fans are expecting that Bangladesh will make its place in this prestigious round.

Pakistan: Pakistan cricket team is the current champion. They won the T20 champions trophy in 2009 after defeating Sri Lanka in the final match. This strong South Asian team is interested to hold their trophy for the second time. It will not be an easy task as they will have to face both Australia and Bangladesh in group stage. They will have to struggle hard to save their position in group round.

Australia: Australia is one of the strongest teams in this tournament. They are keen to get the trophy this year. It is very sad that they could not win the world cup trophy of the shortest version cricket game despite sending the strongest squad. This year, they have the possibility to win the trophy in the Caribbean. Let us see if they can fulfill their dream.

Bangladesh: Bangladesh is not a strong team either but they can make upset against any strong teams. Because of their good performance against strong teams, they are called giant killer. Bangladesh cricket team has developed a lot within a short time. I hope that they will go to the semi-final round in this tournament.

Group B-

Runners-up team Sri Lanka has been placed in this group. Their opponent teams are New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Fans are expecting that less competition will be held in this group. May be, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will go to the next round easily but Zimbabwe is not less stronger compare with other two teams. No doubt, we also can see a tough competition in this round also.

Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka failed to get their first T20 champions trophy after being beaten by Pakistan in the second edition of ICC T20 world cup. However, they will not leave any stone unturned to get the title this year. Ahead of the tournament, they have picked a strong squad. Now, it is the time to fulfill their desire. Do you think they can do it?

New Zealand: Despite being strong team in all forms of cricket game, New Zealand has not yet won any big tournament. Even this team could not reach to the final round in any World Cup tournament. However, they look much stronger this year. All of their players are also in good form. I will not be surprised if they win the trophy this year.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe is not in the list of strong teams but they are not inferior to other participants. In the inaugural T20 World Cup, they shook the world after defeating Australia in group round. It was sad to see that they were eliminated from first round.

Group C-

Inaugural champion team India has been placed in group C. They will compete against South Africa and Afghanistan. The main competition will be held between India and South Africa. Between them, one will be group champion and another team will be runners-up in group round.

India: Indian cricket team is confident about their performance forthcoming T20 World Cup in West Indies. They are eyeing to regain their trophy which they won in the inaugural season. However, their performance in second edition was not good. They were eliminated early from the tournament.

South Africa: If any team has the possibility to win the title this year then it will be South Africa. They are very balanced team in both batting and bowling line up. Let us see what they bring for their fans.

Afghanistan: Afghanistan is the new member in T20 World Cup 2010. They have been qualified via the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. They secured their qualification to the forthcoming 2010 ICC World Twenty20.

Group D-

Host country West Indies has been included in this group with other two countries- England and Ireland.

West Indies: As West Indies is the host country, they will be in buoyant form. They will take the home advantage. It will be interesting to see if they can keep the trophy in their home. However, they are not in good form. So, it will be very tough for them to keep the trophy.

England: England is the only strong team who can compete with West Indies. This team is not in their good form. They hosted the last T20 World Cup but they could not play well in their home ground. This time, they are much stronger and confident about their performance in this upcoming tournament.

Ireland: Ireland is another weak team in this tournament. Despite being a weak team, they are hoping to make upset which they did in their first T20 world cup in 2009. Ireland defeated Bangladesh in group stage and secured their place in Super Eight round. I hope that they will repeat their history again.

Unseeded Teams:

Three teams in this schedule have been placed without any seed or rank. They are Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland. Another important thing is that 8^th seeded is missing. Ireland performed well in the second edition of T20 World Cup. They reached to the Super Eight round. So, they were destined to be ranked 8^th seeded. As they are not test nation team, they have been placed without any ranked.

What about Zimbabwe and Afghanistan? Zimbabwe withdrew from 2009 competition that is why they failed to achieve any seed for the upcoming tournament. Afghanistan is a new member in this shortest version of cricket game. They have been qualified via the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. That is why, they have not got any seed.

ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers:

Afghanistan and Ireland have been qualified via The 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier. Afghanistan became the tournament winner where Ireland was the runners-up team. According to the rules, winner team has been placed in Group C and runners-up team put into Group D.

Venues:

Four venues in West Indies have been selected to host all the matches of this tournament. The venues are- Barbados, Guyana, St.Lucia and St.Kitts & Nevis.

The whole tournament has been divided into four parts. These are- Group Stages, Super Eight round, Semi-Final round and Final round.

Group Stage: With this round, eight teams from four groups will be selected for the next round. Two top ranked teams from each group will be selected given them a number 1 and 2 respectively. Group round will be played in round robin format where each of the teams will play against other two teams.

Super Eight round: Eight teams from four groups will be selected for this round. These eight teams will be divided into two groups- Group E and Group F. Each group consists of four teams. Group E will consist of A1, B2, C1, D2 and Group E will consist of A2, B1, C2, D1.

Semi-Final round: Two top ranked teams from two each group will be selected in this round. In this round only two matches will be played. Winners of the two matches will play in the final round.

Final round: In this round, champion team of this tournament will be selected. Winners of the two semi-finalist matches will compete for the championship trophy.

Division of points:

Winner of the match will get 2 points. On the other hand, losing team will not get any point. If any case the match is finished without any result or tie then the match result will be decided in a super-over.

Date	Group	Teams	Time	Venue
30th April 2010 (Friday)	B	New Zealand vs Sri Lanka-1st Match	GMT 17:00 Local Time 13:00 Indian Standard Time 22:30	Providence Stadium, Guyana
30th April 2010 (Friday) D/N	D	West Indies vs Ireland- 2nd Match- 2nd Match	GMT 21:00 Local Time 17:00 Indian Standard Time +1d 02:30	Providence Stadium, Guyana
1st May 2010 (Saturday)	C	Afghanistan vs India- 3rd Match	GMT 13:30 Local Time 09:30 Indian Standard Time 19:00	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
1st May 2010 (Saturday)	A	Bangladesh vs Pakistan- 4th Match	GMT 17:30 Local Time 13:30 Indian Standard Time 23:00	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
2nd May 2010 (Sunday)	C	India vs South Africa- 5th Match	GMT 13:30 Local Time 09:30 Indian Standard Time 19:00	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
2nd May 2010 (Sunday)	A	Australia vs Pakistan- 6th Match	GMT 17:30 Local Time 13:30 Indian Standard Time 23:00	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
3rd May 2010 (Monday)	B	Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe- 7th Match	GMT 13:30 Local Time 09:30 Indian Standard Time 19:00	Providence Stadium, Guyana
3rd May 2010 (Monday)	D	West Indies vs England- 8th Match	GMT 17:30 Local Time 13:30 Indian Standard Time 23:00	Providence Stadium, Guyana
4th May 2010 (Tuesday)	B	New Zealand vs Zimbabwe- 9th Match	GMT 13:30 Local Time 09:30 Indian Standard Time 19:00	Providence Stadium, Guyana
4th May 2010 (Tuesday)	D	England vs Ireland- 10th Match	GMT 17:30 Local Time 13:30 Indian Standard Time 23:00	Providence Stadium, Guyana
5th May 2010 (Wednesday)	A	Australia vs Bangladesh- 11th Match	GMT 13:30 Local Time 09:30 Indian Standard Time 19:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
5th May 2010 (Wednesday)	C	Afghanistan vs South Africa- 12th Match	GMT 17:30 Local Time 13:30 Indian Standard Time 23:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
6th May 2010 (Thursday)	Super Eight Round	A1 vs D2- 13th Match	GMT 13:30 Local Time 09:30 Indian Standard Time 19:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
6th May 2010 (Thursday)		C1 vs B2- 14th Match	GMT 17:30 Local Time 13:30 Indian Standard Time 23:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
7th May 2010 (Friday)		A2 vs C2- 15th Match	GMT 13:30 Local Time 09:30 Indian Standard Time 19:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
7th May 2010 (Friday)		B1 vs D1- 16th Match	GMT 17:30 Local Time 13:30 Indian Standard Time 23:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
8th May 2010 (Saturday)		A1 vs B2- 17th Match	GMT 13:30 Local Time 09:30 Indian Standard Time 19:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
8th May 2010 (Saturday)		D2 vs C1- 18th Match	GMT 17:30 Local Time 13:30 Indian Standard Time 23:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
9th May 2010 (Sunday)		C2 vs D1- 19th Match	GMT 13:30 Local Time 09:30 Indian Standard Time 19:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
9th May 2010 (Sunday)		B1 vs A2- 20th Match	GMT 17:30 Local Time 13:30 Indian Standard Time 23:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
10th May 2010 (Monday)		A1 vs C1- 21st Match	GMT 13:30 Local Time 09:30 Indian Standard Time 19:00	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
10th May 2010 (Monday)		B2 vs D2- 22nd Match	GMT 17:30 Local Time 13:30 Indian Standard Time 23:00	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
11th May 2010 (Tuesday)		B1 vs C2- 23rd Match	GMT 17:00 Local Time 13:00 Indian Standard Time 22:30	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
11th May 2010 (Tuesday) D/N		D1 vs A2- 24th Match	GMT 21:00 Local Time 17:00 Indian Standard Time +1d 02:30	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
13th May 2010 (Thursday)	Semi-Final	To be determined (TBD) vs To be determined (TBD)- 1st semi-final	GMT 15:30 Local Time 11:30 Indian Standard Time 21:00	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
14th May 2010 (Friday)		TBD vs TBD- 2nd semi-final	GMT 15:30 Local Time 11:30 Indian Standard Time 21:00	Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
16th May 2010 (Sunday)	Final Match	TBC vs TBC	GMT 15:30 Local Time 11:30 Indian Standard Time 21:00	Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

In this tournament, 27 numbers of matches will be played in total. The duration of this tournament is just 17 days. First and second semi-final matches of ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2010 will be played on 13^th and 14^th May. This tournament will be end with the final match on 16^th May at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

ICC T20 World Cup 2010 will start with the match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. On the same day and same venue, Host team West Indies will take on weak foe Ireland. Only two matches will be played in day/night.

South Asian people can enjoy all of the matches as most of the matches will be played at night in this region.