Stage set for T20 showpiece
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Hosts England are ready to get the second ICC World Twenty20 under-way at Lord's Friday.
Paul Collingwood's men open up against the Netherlands in the first of their two Group B matches, with Pakistan set to face England at The Oval Sunday.
Holders and favourites India open their Group A campaign against Bangladesh while Australia play the West Indies Saturday in Group C.
The final will be staged at Lord's Sunday (June 21).
There are four groups of three, with the top two from each group going through to the Super Eights which will be made up of two groups of four.
The top two from each of those groups go into the semi-finals to be played at Trent Bridge and The Oval.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni led the tournament favourites to an impressive nine-wicket win over fellow 2007 finalists Pakistan in Wednesday's warm-up, but said the formbook should be thrown out of the window when it comes to the shortest format of the professional game.
"I don't think the win against Pakistan underlines our status as favourites," said Dhoni, who played in the final two years ago.
"It's not about being favourites, you have to perform like this throughout the tournament to win. -BBC online
Paul Collingwood's men open up against the Netherlands in the first of their two Group B matches, with Pakistan set to face England at The Oval Sunday.
Holders and favourites India open their Group A campaign against Bangladesh while Australia play the West Indies Saturday in Group C.
The final will be staged at Lord's Sunday (June 21).
There are four groups of three, with the top two from each group going through to the Super Eights which will be made up of two groups of four.
The top two from each of those groups go into the semi-finals to be played at Trent Bridge and The Oval.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni led the tournament favourites to an impressive nine-wicket win over fellow 2007 finalists Pakistan in Wednesday's warm-up, but said the formbook should be thrown out of the window when it comes to the shortest format of the professional game.
"I don't think the win against Pakistan underlines our status as favourites," said Dhoni, who played in the final two years ago.
"It's not about being favourites, you have to perform like this throughout the tournament to win. -BBC online