Pakistan to play Australia in final T20I WC preparation

LAHORE, Pakistan, Jan 14 (AFP): Former champions Pakistan and Australia will face off in three Twenty20 internationals to wrap up their preparations for next month's World Cup, the Pakistani cricket board said on Wednesday.

India and Sri Lanka are co-hosts of the Twenty20 World Cup, which runs from February 7 to March 8.

"Pakistan will play Australia in three Twenty20 internationals in Lahore which serves as crucial game time for both sides ahead of the World Cup," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

They will play at the Pakistani city's Gaddafi Stadium from January 29 to February 01, it added.

Australia's T20I squad will arrive in Lahore on January 28.

Pakistan are placed in Group A of the 20-team World Cup along with arch-rivals India, the United States, Namibia and the Netherlands. Australia are placed in Group B with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the Super Eight stages.