Sport

WI to face Pakistan in CWC 2007 opener

ST ANN'S, CMC

ORGANISERS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY that hosts West Indies will face Pakistan in the opening game of the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 on March 13 at the newly renovated Sabina Park in Kingston.

The Group D match kicks off the first round matches that will also have games in St Kitts and Nevis, where defending champions Australia are playing, Trinidad and Tobago, and St Lucia.

The match schedule for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 was announced before midday at a glittering gala presentation at Queen's Hall.

Round robin play will see six games over a period of 11 days, with the final match of this group slated for March 23 between the West Indies and Ireland, who secured their place at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 by reaching the final of the recent ICC Trophy.

Australia will begin their attempt to retain their title at the fully upgraded Warner Park Stadium in St Kitts when they take on Scotland on Wednesday, March 14.

The twin-island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago will host Group B.

Group play there will start on Thursday, March 15 when Sri Lanka meet Bermuda.

St Lucia will stage Group C that opens at the Beausejour Stadium on March 14 when Kenya face Canada.

In all four Group stage Host Venues, six matches will be played over 11 days.

The winners and runners-up from each of the four groups will earn the right to advance to the Super 8 stage of the tournament, which begins on March 27, and will be played in four countries - Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, Grenada and Barbados.

From the Super 8 play-offs, the top four teams will travel for semi-final matches in Jamaica (April 24) and St Lucia (April 25) ahead of the big final at Kensington Oval in Barbados on April 28.

The tournament will see 51 One-Day International matches over a 47-day period.

The event logo and event mascot were also unveiled at this `Brand Launch' event that was streamed live on the internet. The mascot is a teenage character called `Mello' who embodies the lifestyle of the region.