Picture Credit: Twitter/@BCCI
While IPL 2021 is still underway in the UAE, the preparations for the forthcoming T20 World Cup has already commenced. The ICC event is also set to happen in Oman and UAE beginning from October 17. Prior to that, the teams are also set to play a few warm-up matches to get into the groove before the marquee event.
All teams will be playing the warm-up matches and the schedule for the same has now been confirmed. There will be four matchdays for these fixtures - October 12, 14, 18 and 20. Moreover, four matches each will happen on these days. Each of the eight already qualified teams will get a couple of matches before the Super 12, beginning on October 23.
The warm-up schedule confirms that India will take on Australia and South Africa in their two matches which will be ideal practice heading into a tough competition like the World Cup. Given that Australia tends to save their best for ICC events, the matches will give the teams a fair idea about their own preparation.
India are set to begin their Super 12 campaign with a blockbuster of a clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24. The tickets for the match in Dubai were sold out within hours of it being made live. The mind games ahead of the clash have also started with former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq already claiming India cannot compete with the Men in Green.
But ahead of that, here is the complete list of warm-up fixtures:
Ireland vs. Papua New Guinea, October 12, 3:30 PM IST, Abu Dhabi
Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka, October 12, 7:30 PM IST, Tolerance Oval
Namibia vs. Oman, October 12, 7:30 PM IST, Dubai
Scotland vs. Netherlands, October 12, 7:30 PM IST, Abu Dhabi
Papua New Guinea vs. Sri Lanka, October 14, 11:30 AM IST, Tolerance Oval
Bangladesh vs. Ireland, October 14, 11:30 AM IST, Abu Dhabi
Namibia vs. Scotland, October 14, 11:30 AM IST, Dubai
Netherlands vs. Oman, October 14, 11:30 AM IST, Dubai
New Zealand vs. West Indies, October 18, 3:30 PM IST, Abu Dhabi
Afghanistan vs. South Africa, October 18, 3:30 PM IST, Dubai
England vs. Pakistan, October 18, 7:30 PM IST, Tolerance Oval
Australia vs. India, October 18, 7:30 PM IST, Dubai
Pakistan vs. West Indies, October 20, 3:30 PM IST, Tolerance Oval
Afghanistan vs. Australia, October 20, 3:30 PM IST, Dubai
England vs. New Zealand, October 20, 7:30 PM IST, Abu Dhabi
India vs. South Africa, October 20, 7:30 PM IST, Dubai