Holders Australia will play India and South Africa in Bangalore in warm-up matches next February ahead of World Cup 2011, the two fixtures headlining the series of practice games involving all 14 participating teams. The matches - two for each side - will not have official ODI status and will be played in Bangalore, Chennai, Chittagong, Colombo, Dhaka, Nagpur and Pallekele.
The tournament proper starts exactly six months from now and ICC president Sharad Pawar was bullish in talking of its prospects. "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.
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," 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
February 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
February 13: India v Australia in Bangalore
February 15: Australia v South Africa in Bangalore, Ireland v Zimbabwe in Nagpur, Kenya v Netherlands in Pallekele, Bangladesh v Pakistan in Dhaka
February 16: India v New Zealand in Chennai, Sri Lanka v West Indies in Colombo, England v Canada in Dhaka
February 18: England v Pakistan in Dhaka
