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T20 World Cup: India, Pakistan to clash on October 24 in Dubai

Arch-rivals have been placed in the same group for this year’s T20 World Cup

T20 World Cup: India, Pakistan to clash on October 24 in Dubai PHOTO: AFP

The 2021 T20 World Cup clash between arch-rivals, Pakistan and India, is set to take place on October 24, Sunday, in Dubai.

India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group for this year’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, from 17 October to 14 November.

While speaking to ANI, a BCCI source said: “Yes, the arch-rivals will clash on October 24.”

A source in the know how of developments in the ICC was also quoted by Press Trust of India (PTI) saying, "As of now, Sunday, October 24 looks the likely option as the first week's Qualifying round matches starting October 17 will be held in Muscat, Oman. So when the main round robin fixtures are played, it is better to start with an Indo-Pak game which will have the best TRP."

The groups, announced by ICC last month, were selected on the basis of team rankings as of 20 March 2021, which saw 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 groupings:

Round 1

Group A: Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands and Namibia

Group B: Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Oman

Super 12s

Group 1: England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, A1 and B2.

Group 2: India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, A2 and B1.