World T20 to begin on October 17 in UAE, Oman; final on November 14

The International Cricket Council (ICC) 2021 T20 World Cup is all set to start on October 17 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, while the final will be held on November 14, 2021.

As per a report in ESPN, it has been learnt that the tournament will start two days after the curtailed Indian Premier League 2021 will end on October 15. UAE and Oman have been selected as the preferred locations to hold the 16-team tournament.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is the host body for the World T20 this year, is yet to write officially to ICC about shifting the World T20 to UAE and Oman although it has started preparations for conducting the tournament in the middle east.

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Possibility of third wave of COVID-19 in India shifts tournament out of the country

Earlier, India was scheduled to organise the 2021 World T20 across nine venues, however, concerns over the nation being hit by the third wave of COVID-19 later this year led ICC to ask BCCI to make alternative arrangements. The concerns were justified as hosting a tournament across the length and breadth of a vast country would have involved players remaining out of bubbles.

ICC’s deadline to BCCI expires on June 30

ICC had given BCCI a deadline of June 30 to give their final word on the scheduling of the tournament. Last year, due to the onset of COVID-19 pandemic situation across the globe, the ICC had postponed the 2020 T20 World Cup, originally scheduled to be held in Australia, and decided India would host the tournament in 2021 with Australia hosting the 2022 edition.

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Scheduling of World T20

The 2021 T20 World Cup would be held in two rounds. Round 1, which will have 12 matches, will be co-hosted in one of the venues of UAE and Oman. Eight teams namely, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia, Oman, Papua New Guinea will be divided into two groups. The top four teams from this round (top two teams from each group) will join the top-ranked eight T20I teams in the Super 12s round.

Speaking of the Super 12s, the twelve teams would be divided into two groups of six teams each. All the 30 games, starting October 24, will be played in three venues in UAE – Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. This will be followed by three playoff games - the two semi-finals and the final.

West Indies are the reigning World T20 champions, having won the 2016 edition held in India.

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 Schedule Out

According to T20 World Cup 2021 schedule released by International Cricket Council (ICC), India will begin their campaign against Pakistan in Dubai on October 24. On October 31, India will play New-Zealand and on November 3, Virat Kohli-led side will face Afghanistan in Dubai. In the last two fixtures, India will play Group B first-place and Group A second-place on November 5 and 8 respectively.

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 final will be played on November 14 in Dubai at 7:30 PM IST.

Group A: Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands and Namibia

Group B: Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Oman

Round 1 qualifiers (Time in IST)

Oct. 17 - Oman v Papua New Guinea, Muscat (3:30 pm) Oct. 17 - Bangladesh v Scotland, Muscat (7:30 pm)

Oct. 18 - Ireland v Netherlands, Abu Dhabi (3:30 pm) Oct. 18 - Sri Lanka v Namibia, Abu Dhabi (7:30 pm)

Oct. 19 - Scotland v Papua New Guinea, Muscat (3:30 pm)

Oct. 19 - Oman v Bangladesh, Muscat (7:30 pm)

Oct. 20 - Namibia v Netherlands, Abu Dhabi (3:30 pm)

Oct. 20 - Sri Lanka v Ireland, Abu Dhabi (7:30 pm)

Oct. 21 - Bangladesh v Papua New Guinea, Muscat (3:30 pm)

Oct. 21 - Oman v Scotland, Muscat (7:30 pm)

Oct. 22 - Namibia v Ireland, Sharjah (3:30 pm)

Oct. 22 - Sri Lanka v Netherlands, Sharjah (7:30 pm)

Super 12

Group 1 fixtures

Oct. 23 - Australia vs South Africa 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Oct. 23 – England vs West Indies 7:30 pm Dubai

Oct. 24 – A1 vs B2 3:30 pm Sharjah

Oct. 26 – South Africa vs West Indies – 3:30 pm Dubai

Oct. 27 – England vs B2 – 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Oct. 28 – Australia vs A1 – 7:30 pm Dubai

Oct. 29 – West Indies vs B2 – 3:30 pm Sharjah

Oct. 30 – South Africa vs A1 – 3:30 pm Sharjah

Oct. 30 – England vs Australia – 7:30 pm Dubai

Nov. 1 – England vs A1 – 7:30 pm Sharjah

Nov. 2 – South Africa vs B2 – 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Nov. 4 – Australia vs B2 – 3:30 pm Dubai

Nov. 4 – West Indies vs A1 – 7:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Nov. 6 – Australia vs West Indies – 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Nov. 6 – England vs South Africa – 7:30 pm Sharjah

Group 2 fixtures

Oct. 24 - India vs Pakistan 7:30 pm Dubai

Oct. 25 – Afghanistan vs B1 7:30 pm Sharjah

Oct. 26 – Pakistan vs New Zealand 7:30 pm Sharjah

Oct. 27 – B1 vs A2 – 7:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Oct. 29 – Afghanistan vs Pakistan – 7:30 pm Dubai

Oct. 31 – Afghanistan vs A2 – 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Oct. 31 – India vs New Zealand – 7:30 pm Dubai

Nov. 2 – Pakistan vs A2 – 7:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Nov. 3 – New Zealand vs B1 – 3:30 pm Dubai

Nov. 3 – India vs Afghanistan – 7:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Nov. 5 – New Zealand vs A2 – 3:30 pm Sharjah

Nov. 5 – India vs B1 – 7:30 pm Dubai

Nov. 7 – New Zealand vs Afghanistan – 3:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Nov. 7 – Pakistan vs B1 – 7:30 pm Sharjah

Nov. 8 – India vs A2 – 7:30 pm Dubai

Play Off & Final

Nov. 10 – Semi-Final 1 – 7:30 pm Abu Dhabi

Nov.11 – Semi- Final 2 – 7:30 pm Dubai

Nov. 14 – Final – 7:30 pm Dubai

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