ENGLAND TO START ICC WORLD TWENTY20 TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST QUALIFIER

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the match schedule and unveiled the event logo of the ICC World Twenty20 2012, which will be staged in Sri Lanka from 18 September to 7 October.

Reigning champion England will start its title defence at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo exactly one year from today, on 21 September, against one of the two qualifiers for the tournament. Stuart Broad's side will complete its opening group commitments two days later against 2007 champion India at the same venue.

Australia, chasing the one global trophy to have eluded them, will go head-to-head with the other qualifier in Colombo on 19 September, part of a double-header that also features India and a qualifier.

Sri Lanka, which lost to England in the semi-final of last year's tournament in the West Indies, will open its campaign against Zimbabwe under lights in Hambantota on the first day of the tournament (18 September) before taking on South Africa at the same venue on 22 September.

If Sri Lanka reaches the Super Eight, it will then go on to play in Pallekele before moving to Colombo if it qualifies for the knock-out stage.

Pakistan, which won the 2009 tournament in England, has been grouped with New Zealand and Bangladesh, and will play its matches in Pallekele on 23 and 25 September respectively. Pallekele will also host the New Zealand-Bangladesh match on 21 September.

If everything goes according to pre-tournament seedings then Pakistan and India will lock horns in a Super Eight match in Colombo on Sunday 30 September.

The group stages of the women's tournament will take place in Galle where host Sri Lanka will take on one of the tournament qualifiers on 26 September, the first day of women's matches. On the same date, last year's losing finalist New Zealand will meet the West Indies.

Australia's women will start their push for back-to-back trophies against India on 27 September, the same day which will see 2009 winner England launch its campaign against the other qualifier.

A total of 42 matches, including 27 men's and 15 women's matches, will be played over 20 days at four venues - R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Pallekele, Hambantota and Galle, with R Premadasa Stadium hosting the finals on Sunday 7 October.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "The ICC World Twenty20 is now a marquee event in Twenty20 cricket where nations challenge each other for the most coveted title in the shortest format of the game.

"The previous editions in South Africa, England and the West Indies have smartly established the ICC World Twenty20 as a major global event that is not only exciting and entertaining but embraces both men's and women's cricket.

"Nothing beats nation-versus-nation contests and when these battles take place in the newest, sharpest and quickest form of the game then you can feel the excitement in fans.

"We all know how passionate and loyal the Sri Lankan public is towards our Great Sport and we will ensure the tickets are affordable so that they can enjoy the event.

"Following the legacies and success of the recent ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, I am confident that the hosts, Sri Lanka, will deliver a world class event.

"I am happy that the men's and women's semi-finals and finals will once again be played on the same days at the same venues. Those match-days provide a great setting for both the men's and women's game and we remain committed to showcase women's cricket in this way, which is unique in the world of team sports."

The tournament will include two teams qualifying from the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012, which will be staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 13-24 March 2012.

Mr Lorgat added: "It will be exciting to see who eventually qualifies. In 2010, Afghanistan made history by qualifying to play on the global stage which was great reward for them and the development of the game."

"Modern Spin" - the event logo

The event logo - "Modern Spin" - was also unveiled by Mr Lorgat.

Designed by Australian creative firm Witekite, the logo incorporates and amalgamates the rounded look of the Sinhalese Script. The letter "T" forms a player which leads into the "2" while the "0" incorporates a cricket ball.

The colours of the logo, with strong reds and oranges, are seen in both nature and Sri Lankan culture and arts, with their presence in the logo giving them a cricket "spin". It has a natural sense of movement due to its fluid lines and forward angles.

Mr Lorgat said: "I am delighted to reveal this colourful logo that reflects the culture of Sri Lanka. The event now has a formal identity and we will use it to promote this exciting and entertaining event."

The logo will be used on an ongoing basis over the next 12 months and will feature on publicity and promotional material during the build-up to and throughout what will be the fourth ICC World Twenty20.


Sale of tickets and international tour and travel packages

Tickets are planned to go on sale to the public from 1 March 2012 and will be available via website and box office sales in Sri Lanka. The ICC and Sri Lanka Cricket will be appointing a company to manage the ticket sales process and will jointly determine a sales policy that will ensure equitable access to purchase tickets for local and overseas fans alike.

Entry to the women's group stage matches in Galle will be open to the public at no charge. Entry to the women's semi-finals and final, which will be played before the men's corresponding matches in Colombo, will be on the same match ticket as the men's.

The ICC tour and travel website www.icctravel.net which will go live on 1 October, will feature the details of all forthcoming ICC events and will be updated regularly with the contact details for all official travel agents. They will be the only outlets through which travel packages to ICC events will be legitimately available.

In territories where an OTA (official travel agent) has not yet been appointed, consumers will be able to register their interest on the website and they will then be contacted by ICC Travel and advised to purchase their desired package.

The ICC World Twenty20 2012 schedule of the matches and more information can be found by clicking here.

The ICC World Twenty20 2012 event logo can be found here and can be downloaded for editorial use only.

Amir ought to have come clean sooner: Afridi

Former Pakistan cricket captain, Shahid Khan Afridi says that Mohammad Amir ought to have come clean sooner about his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal which has embroiled the young fast bowler along with two other Pakistani cricketers for over a year.

Mohammad Amir, a young and upcoming prospect for Pakistani cricket had found himself in the midst of a spot-fixing scandal last year when he was on tour with the Pakistan national team. A sting by the now defunct News of the World news papers showed a bookie taking money from an undercover reporter for having certain bowlers in the Pakistan ranks deliberately bowling no-balls on pre-specified deliveries. Amir, along with other accuses, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt had for long pleaded innocence. However, Amir came clean during a court hearing on Wednesday, submitting a written statement confessing to the charges labelled against him.

Afridi, who himself has faced controversy in cricket after being found guilty of biting down on a ball in February 2010 with a swift two T20 match ban. Afridi had already been in strife for ball tampering, suspended for one Test and two one-dayers in 2005.

Afridi further said that it remains to be seen who had entrapped Amir into committing this act and who all were his accomplices.

Afridi went on to talk about his own career, saying that he could not continue playing under the coach (Waqar Younis) who had been giving the former skipper problems. Though, Afridi maintained that conditions had since (his departure from the team) improved and he wished to continue playing cricket.

He also congratulated the Pakistan cricket team on their success in Zimbabwe.

Razzaq agrees with Afridi

Pakistan cricket all-rounder Abdul Razzaq echoed the sentiments of Afridi saying that Amir ought to have confessed his involvement much earlier.

Razzaq said that it is now up to the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board to decide what punishment Amir would have to face for his actions.

Pakistan vs Zimbabwe 2nd T20 Highlights 18-9-2011 (18 September 2011)

2nd t20

Post Match by KhanNasar

bnn news Mirza iqbal Baig and shoaib akhtar

I will take some important decisions in coming 1 month..SHAHID AFRIDI

the former Pakistan Odi's & t20 captain shahid afridi said that he will take some important decisions in next 1 or month or so.. he said he had conflicts with Waqar younis but he is no more with the team now.

he said his main focus is on national t20 championship which will starts this month .. afridi said he is 100% fit he is anxious to represent pakistan he said series win against zimbabwe is a good sign .. he also said that he can represent pakistan in next 4 or 5 years ..

about aamir he said he set good example for others that he accpeted that he was involved in the guilty of match fixing .. but if he was involved in that he had to accept that before ..

afridi said there is too much presurre on him to come back in national side ..but he will take step after take advices from his relatives & friends..

Pak , India series : after finalizing the schedule we will take approval from the GOVT.said : Rajev shukla

new dehli : pakistan india cricket series the main  proceedings in it that the chairam PCB ijaz but & BCCI vice president rajev Shukla meeting in London.according to indian website ijaz butt declared that meeting with Shukla as a positive one ijaz butt also said that there is a positive proceedings after that meeting but he also said he don't want to disclose any more news about that.untill all matters should not be resolved .

whereas BCCI vice president Rajev Shukla said after finalizing the schedule we will take the approval for this series from our GOVT.where as he also said there is no issue from the govt but we will do all our formalities ..

in next year march april Pak , India series is predict in future tour programes Pakistan will have to tour India but PCB said after mumbai attacks the tour was cancelled .. but PCB said that they will play at neutral venue or India will come to Pak for this series..

Afridi will play in Lahore despite dengue fears

Despite concerns shown by Karachi’s regional association, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has confirmed his participation in the season-opening Twenty20 event in Lahore despite the spread of dengue in the city.

The all-rounder, who will lead Karachi Dolphins, is looking ahead to the event where some participating teams have expressed concerns over the deadly virus that has claimed over 25 lives in Lahore.

The Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) called for a venue-shift, arguing that players were concerned about their safety. The Afghanistan Cricket Board, which will be sending a team from the country, also voiced their concern over the state of the city. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), however, rejected all concerns, saying precautionary measures have been taken and the event will go as planned from September 25.

Afridi, though, is keen to return to action.

“I will take part in the tournament,” the experienced all-rounder confirmed to The Express Tribune. “I am focusing on a good show for my team in order to achieve best results. I want to play cricket as much as I can to avoid rustiness. It will be a good tournament and I am not going to miss this opportunity.”

Fans can expect fireworks

The all-rounder has not played international cricket since the tour of West Indies where he developed differences with the coach and his subsequent outburst forced the board to strip him of captaincy.

Afridi retired from international cricket following that. He did represent Hampshire in the recently-concluded Friends Life T20 and hit an explosive knock of 80 off just 42 balls in his last innings at the event. Afridi said he was aiming for more such innings in the upcoming tournament.

“I am focusing on my batting also apart from bowling,” he said. “I will try to go fully prepared to shine as an all-rounder. My last innings has given me confidence and hopefully I will carry the form in the tournament.”

Return to international cricket?

However, Afridi refused an immediate return to international cricket.

“I just want to play cricket at the moment and will return when the time comes,” he said.

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