Cricket:The Ireland cricketers will open their World Cup 2011 campaign with a February 25th match against Bangladesh in Dhaka, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed. Their pool B opponents will open the One Day International tournament with a game against fellow hosts India at the same venue on February 19th, two days after the city hosts the opening ceremony.
Ireland will be based in India for their other matches against England, India, the West Indies, South Africa and the Netherlands, in that order, as they bid to reach the quarter-finals.
Australia will open their defence of the trophy against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad, India, on February 21st.
The four-time winners are grouped with former champions Pakistan and Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Canada, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are staging the event, with India hosting 29 of the 49 matches including the final at a renovated Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2nd.
Pakistan, who were stripped of hosting rights over security concerns, will play all their group matches in Sri Lanka.
In all, 13 venues will be used in the 43-day tournament.
Pool A:Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya.
Pool B:India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands
Schedule
Feb 19: Bangladesh v India, Dhaka
Feb 20: New Zealand v Kenya, Chennai
Feb 20: Sri Lanka v Canada, Hambantota
Feb 21: Australia v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad
Feb 22: England v Netherlands, Nagpur
Feb 23: Pakistan v Kenya, Hambantota
Feb 24: South Africa v West Indies, New Delhi
Feb 25: Australia v New Zealand, Nagpur
Feb 25: Bangladesh v Ireland, Dhaka
Feb 26: Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Colombo
Feb 27: India v England, Kolkata
Feb 28: West Indies v Netherlands, New Delhi
Feb 28: Zimbabwe v Canada, Nagpur
March 1: Sri Lanka v Kenya, Colombo
March 2: England v Ireland, Bangalore
March 3: South Africa v Netherlands, Mohali
March 3: Pakistan v Canada, Colombo
March 4: New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad
March 4: Bangladesh v West Indies, Dhaka
March 5: Sri Lanka v Australia, Colombo
March 6: India v Ireland, Bangalore
March 6: England v South Africa, Chennai
March 7: Kenya v Canada, New Delhi
March 8: Pakistan v New Zealand, Pallekele
March 9: India v Netherlands, New Delhi
March 10: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Pallekele
March 11: West Indies v Ireland, Mohali
March 11: Bangladesh v England, Chittagong
March 12: India v South Africa, Nagpur
March 13: New Zealand v Canada, Mumbai
March 13: Australia v Kenya, Bangalore
March 14: Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Pallekele
March 14: Bangladesh v Netherlands, Chittagong
March 15: South Africa v Ireland, Kolkata
March 16: Australia v Canada, Bangalore
March 17: England v West Indies, Chennai
March 18: Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Mumbai
March 18: Ireland v Netherlands, Kolkata
March 19: Australia v Pakistan, Colombo
March 19: Bangladesh v South Africa, Dhaka
March 20: Zimbabwe v Kenya, Kolkata
March 20: India v West Indies, Chennai
March 23: Quarter-final, Dhaka
March 24: Quarter-final, Colombo
March 25: Quarter-final, Dhaka
March 26: Quarter-final, Ahmedabad
March 29: Semi-final, Colombo
March 30: Semi-final, Mohali
April 2: Final, Mumbai