Cricket World Cup schedule to be announced on Monday

KARACHI : The match schedule of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be announced in Mumbai on Monday (November 9), said a ICC statement issued on Saturday.

After the announcement of the match schedule, ICC Vice-President and Chairman of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Central Organising Committee Sharad PawarSharad Pawar, ICC Chief Executive Haroon LorgatHaroon Lorgat and tournament director Prof. Ratnakar Shetty will hold a media conference to announce the schedule.

A total of 49 matches will be played in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 with India hosting 29 matches, including the final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a semi-final in Mohali and a quarter-final in Ahmedabad while Sri Lanka will stage 12 matches including a semi-final in Colombo and a quarter-final.

The ICC Cricket World Cup opening ceremony will be held on February 17, 2011 in Bangladesh, which will also host the opening match on February 19 along with two quarter-finals and six group matches.

GROUP 'A': Defending Champiion Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya are drawn in

GROUP 'B': India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, and Netherlands