India to play two warm-up matches before main draw of ICC World T20 2014

[Basil]

India to play two warmup games before start of World T20 Cup;Srinath,Ravi to officiate ​

India will play two warm-up games before their opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 2014 to be held in Bangladesh in March, according to the schedule announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday.

A total of 16 warm-up matches will be played in the men’s event, including eight ahead of the first round and another eight in the lead up to the Super 10 stage.

India play against Sri Lanka in their first warm-up game on March 17 in Mirpur before taking on England two days later at the same venue.

India begin their ICC World T20 campaign on March 21 against Pakistan in Mirpur.

The ICC also announceed match officials for the tournament which will be held between March 16 and April 6 in three venues — Mirpur, Chittagong and Sylhet.

Match referee Javagal Srinath and umpire S. Ravi are among match officials picked for the World Twenty20 to be held in Bangladesh March 16-April 6.

The match referees' responsibilities throughout the tournament will be shared between David Boon, Ranjan Madugalle and Javagal Srinath of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.

The on-field responsibilities will be shared by all 11 of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, namely: Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Steve Davis, Marais Erasmus, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker, as well as Billy Bowden and S.Ravi of the International Panel.

The following is the complete schedule of warm-up matches:

Men's --

First round:

Wed 12 March - Bangladesh v UAE (1530-1830), Fatullah; Ireland v Nepal (1930-2230), Fatullah; Afghanistan v Netherlands (1530-1830), ZACS, Chittagong; Zimbabwe v Hong Kong (1930-2230), ZACS, Chittagong

Fri 14 March - Nepal v UAE (1530-1830), Fatullah; Bangladesh v Ireland (1930-2230), Fatullah; Afghanistan v Zimbabwe (1530-1830), MA Aziz, Chittagong; Hong Kong v Netherlands (1930-2230), MA Aziz, Chittagong

Super 10 stage:

Mon 17 March - New Zealand v Pakistan (1530-1830), Mirpur; Sri Lanka v India (1930-2230), Mirpur

Tues 18 March - West Indies v England (1530-1830), Fatullah; South Africa v Bangladesh A (1930-2230), Fatullah

Wed 19 March - Sri Lanka v West Indies (1530-1830), Mirpur; England v India (1930-2230), Mirpur; Australia v New Zealand (1530-1830), Fatullah; South Africa v Pakistan (1530-1830), FatullahWomen's warm-up matches:

Tues 18 March - Australia v Sri Lanka (0930-1230), BKSP 3, Dhaka; New Zealand v India (1330-1630), BKSP 4, Dhaka; England v Pakistan (0930-1230), BKSP 3, Dhaka; West Indies v South Africa (13301630), BKSP 4, Dhaka

Thurs 20 March - Pakistan v Bangladesh (0930-1230); BKSP 3, Dhaka; Sri Lanka v Ireland (1230-1630), BKSP 4, Dhaka

Fri 21 March - Australia v West Indies (0930-1230), BKSP 3, Dhaka; South Africa v Bangladesh (1330-1630), BKSP 4, Dhaka; England v New Zealand (0930-1230), BKSP 3, Dhaka; India v Ireland (1330-1630), BKSP 4, Dhaka.