The ICC has announced the schedule for the warm-up games ahead of World Cup 2011. The 14 teams in the fray will play two games each, from Feb 12 to 18. The tournament gets underway on Feb 19.
The warm-up fixtures will be played across the three host countries with Bangalore, Chennai, Chittagong, Colombo, Dhaka, Nagpur and Pallekele as venues, reports Cricinfo.
The ICC president Sharad Pawar was confident that the 2011 edition of the tournament will be more successful than its nine predecessors.
“Today means that the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is exactly six months away. Let there be no doubt whatsoever that the ICC, along with the three co-hosts, will ensure that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is the best of all the World Cups staged so far,” Pawar said.
Muttiah Muralitharan, who is available for the World Cup despite retiring from Tests, rated Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup triumph on par with his 800-wicket feat in Test cricket.
“Obviously winning the tournament in the Indian subcontinent in 1996 is something I rate as highly as my 800 Test wickets and reaching the final in the West Indies three years ago was also by no means a small achievement.
“I’m hoping victory in next year’s World Cup will not only strengthen our future as a cricketing nation but will also help us produce more world-class cricketers who will go on to entertain the world with their flare, talent, charisma and prowess,” Muralitharan said.
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal looked forward to playing in front of home crowds in the World Cup.
“This will be my second World Cup but definitely the one I am longing for. In front of our own fans, families and friends we have the opportunity to make the country proud and deep inside every Bangladesh cricketer is a burning desire to excel,” he said.
“There is no other competition like the World Cup and it is knocking at our door. Bangladesh will be the centre of the cricket world six months from now and I am excited like anyone. Just imagine what it is like for the kids aspiring to be cricketers? The legacy of this ICC Cricket World Cup will be ours to cherish and my message to the public is to make every moment memorable and share your enjoyment with others. You may not get another chance,” said Tamim who was instrumental in Bangladesh’s upset win against India in their opening game of the 2007 World Cup.
The two teams will square off in the opening match of the 2011 edition, in Dhaka.
WARM-UP MATCHES SCHEDULE
Feb 12: New Zealand v Ireland in Nagpur, Zimbabwe v South Africa in Chennai, West Indies v Kenya in Colombo, Sri Lanka v Netherlands in Pallekele, Bangladesh v Canada in Chittagong
Feb 13: India v Australia in Bangalore
Feb 15: Australia v South Africa in Bangalore, Ireland v Zimbabwe in Nagpur, Kenya v Netherlands in Pallekele, Bangladesh v Pakistan in Dhaka
Feb 16: India v New Zealand in Chennai, Sri Lanka v West Indies in Colombo, England v Canada in Dhaka
Feb 18: England v Pakistan in Dhaka
