Windies to raise curtain on Champions Trophy against host
Filed Under Curt Flood | Posted on March 25, 2008
West Indies will open this year’s International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan when they clash with the host in the curtain-raiser at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the International Cricket Council announced Saturday.
The regional side, who captured the 2004 edition in England when they beat the host in a thrilling final, already face an arduous task in getting out of the preliminary round of the 2008 ICC Champions Trophy, after being drawn in a virtual “group of deathâ€.
It was announced last week that the Windies will contest Group A with title-holders Australia, 2002 champions India and dangerous host Pakistan, in the 11-28 Sept. tournament.
West Indies will follow up the Pakistan fixture with a meeting with giants India on 16 Sept. at the National Stadium in Karachi before closing out their preliminary round campaign against Australia at the same venue.
Forced to play a qualifying tournament in order to reach the main draw of the 2006 Champions Trophy in South Africa, West Indies still managed to defy the odds and reach the final before losing to Australia.
The Aussies, winners of last year’s Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, open the defence of their title against India at the Gaddafi Stadium on 13 Sept.
Group B, comprising South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England, will get underway with a clash between Black Caps and Sri Lanka in Karachi on 12 Sept.
There are several changes to this year’s format. Organisers have abolished the pre-qualifying tournament with only the top eight ranked teams contesting the competition now.
In addition, 15 matches will be played in 17 days this year in what is a much shorter schedule, compared to the 2006 tournament when 21 matches were played over 29 days.
The two top teams from each group after the preliminary round, will progress to the semi-finals scheduled for Karachi and Rawalpindi while the Gadaffi Stadium will play host to the final.
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