The tournament starts starts from the 18th of September to 7 October with Zimbabwe and the hosts playing in the opening at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.
Both Sri Lanka and South Africa have played against Zimbabwe twice since 2008 and Zimbabwe was unsuccessful against both teams since then despite some very impressive victories against the likes of Australia. Zimbabwe captain, Brendan Taylor, expressed his optimism in his team’s performance in the build up to the tournament.
“I would like to think that we have been a very positive side and we have been successful against Australia. We are on an upward surge and we constantly push ourselves to our best cricket.
“Playing the opening match will always have its pressures especially against the host nation in any sport. Whoever is going to play the best cricket on any day is going to be on top therefore we will approach the whole tournament with a positive attitude and the belief that we can win,” he said.
A total of 42 matches, including 27 men’s and 15 women’s matches, will be played over 20 days at four venues – R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Pallekele, Hambantota and Galle, with R Premadasa Stadium hosting the finals on Sunday 7 October.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “The ICC World Twenty20 is now a marquee event in Twenty20 cricket where nations challenge each other for the most coveted title in the shortest format of the game.
“The previous editions in South Africa, England and the West Indies have smartly established the ICC World Twenty20 as a major global event that is not only exciting and entertaining but embraces both men’s and women’s cricket.
“Nothing beats nation-versus-nation contests and when these battles take place in the newest, sharpest and quickest form of the game then you can feel the excitement in fans.”
The tournament will include two teams qualifying from the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012, which will be staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 13-24 March 2012.
The tournament will include two teams qualifying from the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012, which will be staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 13-24 March 2012. In 2010, Afghanistan made history by qualifying to play on the global stage which was great reward for them and the development of the game and the ICC has confidence in the same fortunes for the next qualifiers.
Men’s Groups
Group A – England, India, Qualifier 2
Group B – Australia, West Indies, Qualifier 1
Group C – Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Group D – Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh
Super Eight (S8) Groups
Group 1 – A1, B2, C1, D2
Group 2 – A2, B1, C2, D1
Zimbabwe first round fixtures
Date & Time (GMT) fixture
Tuesday 18 September, 2012 –2:00 PM, Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
Venue: Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
Thursday 20 September, 2012 –2:00 PM, South Africa vs Zimbabwe
Venue: Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
