Melbourne: The co-host of ICC World Cup 2015 has been drawn in a same group for the tournament. Australia and New Zealand are in the same group while India will face off against its long time rival Pakistan.
The first match of ICC World Cup 2015 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.
Australia and New Zealand are grouped with England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and two qualifiers. Title-holders India are pooled with Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and one other qualifying team. The top four sides from each pool will go through to the knockout stage.
Forty-nine matches will be played in 14 venues across the two host nations, with Australia staging 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. Other New Zealand cities to host games are Auckland, Dunedin, Hamilton, Napier, Nelson and Wellington.
The day-night final match will be at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 29.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who launched the tournament in Melbourne, said the contest would likely be watched by a global television audience of one billion.
“When it comes to 2015, I don’t think you’re going to be able to keep anyone away,” Rudd said.”This is going to be a great, great world series.”
Bureau Report
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