March 23, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 14, 1429

KARACHI, March 22: Hosts Pakistan will take on West Indies in the opening match of the 2008 ICC Champions Trophy, the International Cricket Council announced on Saturday.

The two Group ‘A’ rivals will clash at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore when the tournament opens on Sept 11. Australia will begin the defence of their title two days later against India at the same venue.

Unlike, the last edition held in India, the coming tournament will run from Sept 11 to 28. Compared to the 2006 event when 21 matches were played over 29 days only 15 matches will be played this time in 17 days of competition with each of the three nominated centres — Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi — hosting five games apiece.

National Stadium in Karachi will host the first-semi-final on Sept 24, while Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is the venue for second pre-final on Sept 25.

Gaddafi Stadium, which staged the 1996 World Cup final between winners Sri Lanka and Australia, has been selected to stage the final on Sept 28.

The elite tournament features the top eight sides on the ICC rankings. They have been split into two groups of four with top seeds Australia heading Group ‘A’ that also includes arch-rivals Pakistan and India as well the West Indies.

Group ‘B’ has second seeds South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England.

Schedule:

Sept 11: Pakistan v West Indies (Lahore).

Sept 12: New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Karachi).

Sept 13: Australia v India (Lahore).

Sept 14: England v Sri Lanka (Karachi).

Sept 15: South Africa v New Zealand (Rawalpindi).

Sept 16: West Indies v India (Karachi).

Sept 17: Pakistan v Australia (Rawalpindi).

Sept 18: South Africa v Sri Lanka (Lahore).

Sept 19: England v New Zealand (Rawalpindi).

Sept 20: Pakistan v India (Lahore).

Sept 21: Australia v West Indies (Karachi).

Sept 21: England v South Africa (Rawalpindi).

Sept 24: First semi-final (Karachi).

Sept 25: Second semi-final (Rawalpindi).

Sept 28: Final (Lahore).