Staff Reporter.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the groups for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 to be hosted by the BCCI in Oman and the United Arab Emirates from 17 October to 14 November.
The groups, selected on the basis of team rankings as of 20 March 2021, see defending champions the West Indies pooled along with former champions England, Australia and South Africa in Group 1 of the Super 12s, with two qualifiers from Round 1 joining them.
Group 2 will comprise former champions India and Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan and the other two qualifiers from Round 1. Eight teams will contest the first round including automatic qualifiers Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with the remaining six who booked their spot through the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019. Ireland, Netherlands and Namibia join Sri Lanka in Group A, whilst Oman, PNG and Scotland will face Bangladesh in Group B.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals.
The tournament, which will be played in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, runs from 17 October to 14 November.
It was moved from India last month because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The groups were selected based on the International Cricket Council Twenty20 rankings. England are the top-ranked side in the world.
Ireland will face Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Namibia in Group A of the initial qualifying stage, with the top two sides going through.
Scotland are in Group B with Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea and Oman.