WIndies and Pakistan set to kick-off 2007 cricket World Cup by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 19th July 2005

 

Hosts West Indies and Pakistan will open the 2007 cricket World Cup after the schedule was announced here.

 

The Group D clash between the West Indies and Pakistan will be on March 13 at the newly renovated Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, it was announced Tuesday.

 

Round robin play will see six games over a period of 11 days, with the final match of this Group slated for March 23, between the West Indies and Ireland who secured their place at the showpiece by reaching the final of the recent ICC Trophy.

 

Defending champions Australia will begin their defence of their title at the fully upgraded Warner Park Stadium in St Kitts when they take on ICC Trophy winners Scotland on March 14.

 

The twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will host Group B. Group play will commence on March 15 when former champions Sri Lanka meets another of the ICC Trophy qualifiers Bermuda, India and Sri Lanka meet in the group's most alluring fixture on March 23.

 

Saint Lucia will welcome the teams, officials and fans to Group C of the competition. Play starts at Beausejour on March 14 when 2003 semi-finalists Kenya takes on another ICC Trophy qualifier Canada.

 

Kenya also closes out group play on March 24, when they face England.

 

In all four Group stage host Venues, six matches will be played over 11 days.

 

The winners and runners-up from each of the four groups will qualify for the Super 8 stage of the tournament where teams will play each of the other teams - except the team which advanced from their own group - for a total of six games each.

 

The Super 8 stage of the tournament, which begins on March 27, will be played in four countries: Antigua, Guyana, Grenada and Barbados

 

The last match of this segment of the tournament will take place on April 21.

 

For the semi-finals the four remaining teams will travel to Jamaica and Saint Lucia. The first semi-final is on April 24 at Sabina Park in Kingston, where the second and third place finishers from the Super 8's will square off against each other.

 

The second of the semis is on April 25 at the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, pitting the first and fourth place finishers from the Super 8's against each other.

 

The final is on Saturday April 28 at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

 

The event logo and event mascot were also unveiled at this 'Brand Launch' event which was streamed live on the internet. The event mascot is a teenage character called 'Mello' who embodies the lifestyle of the region.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)