DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The West Indies will fancy their chances of advancing to the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after being given a favourable draw.
The West Indies will be going after their third T20 World Cup title.The regional side has been drawn in Group C along with England, Bangladesh and minnows Nepal and Italy.
The ICC on Tuesday released the fixtures and groups of the 20-team tournament, which will run from February 7 to March 8 and be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India.
With the top two teams advancing to the Super Eight phase, the Windies will fancy their chances of progressing from the group, with England and Bangladesh set to be their biggest challengers.
The two-time champions, however, cannot underestimate a Nepal side which defeated them 2-1 in their T20I series earlier this year.
The Windies’ first two matches will be crucial, as they will take on Bangladesh on February 7 and then face off against England four days later, with the outcomes of those matches likely to determine whether they advance out of the group.
Their final two group stage matches will be on February 15 against Nepal and Italy on February 19.
Meanwhile, Group A comprises defending champions India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia, while Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman will battle it out it Group B.
Group C has been labeled the ‘group of death’, with New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada and the United Arab Emirates drawn together.
A total of 40 group matches will be played between February 7 to 20, with the top two sides from each group then progressing to the Super Eights phase of the tournament that commences on February 21.
The top four sides at the completion of the Super Eights qualify for the knockout stages of the event, with semi-finals to be held in Kolkata or Colombo and Mumbai, ahead of the title decider on March 8 in either Ahmedabad or Colombo.
