Asian teams in TT for 2007 W/Cup

LONDON: The West Indies will play Pakistan in the opening group stage of the 2007 Cricket World Cup after seedings were decided by the International Cricket Council yesterday. The ICC used yesterday’s rankings in the One-Day International table to determine the seedings. Australia, Sri Lanka, India and host West Indies were already seeded in July 2004 and each placed in one of the four groups to contest the initial group stage.

Top-seeded Australia are in Group One, based in St Kitts and Nevis with South Africa and two teams yet to be decided. Sri Lanka lead Group Two, based in Trinidad and Tobago, with India, Bangladesh and a qualifier while England are grouped with New Zealand, Kenya and a qualifier in Group Three in St Lucia. Jamaica will host Group Four matches involving Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe and a qualifier. The five qualifiers will be determined at the 12-team ICC Trophy, held June 27 to July 13 in Ireland. “Confirmation of the seedings means we can already look forward to a number of mouthwatering clashes in the group stage,” ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said.

“Host team West Indies against Pakistan looks to be a key match in Group Four, while the presence of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Group Two, allied to the Asian cultural influence in Trinidad and Tobago, will make for a wonderful atmosphere and some compelling cricket.” The top two teams will advance from the group stage to the Super Eights, where each team will play against every team they have not already played. The top four teams at the end of the Super Eights will qualify for the quarterfinals. The World Cup tournament will be held in February and March 2007 with dates and fixtures to be announced in mid-July this year.