ICC Champions Trophy 2013, schedule

Dubai, August 21, 2012: The International Cricket Council today announced the full schedule from the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 with Cardiff, Edgbaston and The Oval set to host the three-week tournament featuring the world’s top eight ODI sides.

The 50 over-a-side competition begins on 6 June next year in Cardiff with a heavyweight clash between the current ICC Cricket World Cup holders, India, and South Africa, the winners of the inaugural tournament in 1998.

The host, England, will kick off its campaign by taking on the current Champions Trophy title holders, Australia, at Edgbaston on 8 June.

The group stages at Edgbaston will also include two eagerly anticipated head-to-head contests between arch sporting rivals Australia and New Zealand – on 12 June – and India and Pakistan – on 15 June.

Cardiff, Edgbaston and The Oval will each host four group matches in the competition which will see the eight teams divided into two pools of four. Group A will feature Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka with India, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies contesting Group B.

The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, to be hosted at The Oval and Cardiff, with the winners then progressing to the ICC Champions Trophy Final at Edgbaston on Sunday 23 June.

Tournament Director, Steve Elworthy commented: “This will be an incredible opportunity for fans to see the world’s very best One-Day International sides in action over the space of less than three weeks and the fixture schedule has thrown up a host of exciting head-to-head contests.

“The format means every match counts and all eight teams will feel that they are capable of winning the tournament in a competition which is set to be one of the highlights of the 2013 summer.”

Tickets for the tournament are expected to go on sale from early November and further details of how to purchase will be released via the ICC website – www.icc-cricket.com

Fixture list in full

Group A: Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka

Group B: India, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies

ICC.