Mello, World Cup mascot.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad:
THE FIRST match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 will be played at renovated Sabina Park on March 13 and will feature a Group D clash between hosts the West Indies and Pakistan.
The full draw for the tournament was announced yesterday in Trinidad and Tobago.
Round robin play will see six games over a period of 11 days, with the final match of Group D slated for March 23 between the West Indies and Ireland, who secured their place at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, by reaching the final of the recent ICC Trophy.
Australia, defending ICC Cricket World Cup champions, will begin their attempt to retain their title at the fully upgraded Warner Park Stadium in St Kitts when they take on Scotland on March 14.
Trinidad and Tobago will host Group B. Group play will commence on March 15 when Sri Lanka meets Bermuda, India and Sri Lanka meet in the group's showpiece game on March 23.
St Lucia will welcome the teams, officials and fans to Group C of the competition. Play starts at Beausejour on March 14 when Kenya take on Canada. Kenya, the surprise team from the last ICC Cricket World Cup, also closes out group play on March 24 when they face England.
SIX MATCHES
In all four group stage host venues, six matches will be played over 11 days.
The winners and runners-up from each of the groups will earn the right to advance to the Super 8 stage of the tournament where teams will play each of the other teams advancing - except the team which advanced from their own group - for a total of six games each.
The Super 8 stage of the tournament, which begins on March 27, will be played in four countries: Antigua, Guyana, Grenada and Barbados.
The last match of this segment of the tournament will take place on April 21.
For the semi-finals, the four remaining teams will travel to Jamaica and St Lucia. On April 24, Sabina Park will be the venue for semi-final one, where the second and third-place finishers from the Super 8's will square off against each other.
SEMIS, FINAL
On April 25, the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet will stage semi-final two, pitting the first and fourth-place finishers from the Super 8's against each other.
April 28 is the date set for the final when the two semi-final winners will meet at Kensington Oval in Barbados to contest the ninth ICC Cricket World Cup final.
The tournament will see 51 One-Day International matches over a 59-day period.
The event logo and event mascot were also unveiled at this 'Brand Launch' event which was streamed live on theIinternet. The event mascot is a teenage character called 'Mello' who embodies the lifestyle of the region
MATCH SCHEDULE for the 2007 Cricket World Cup in West Indies.
GROUP A (ST KITTS & NEVIS)
Australia
South Africa
Scotland
Netherlands
Wednesday, March 14: Australia v Scotland
Friday, March 16: South Africa v Netherlands
Sunday, March 18: Australia v Netherlands
Tuesday, March 20: South Africa v Scotland
Thursday, March 22: Scotland v Netherlands
Saturday, March 24: Australia v South Africa
GROUP B (TRINIDAD & TOBAGO)
Sri Lanka
India
Bangladesh
Bermuda
Thursday, March 15: Sri Lanka v Bermuda
Saturday, March 17: India v Bangladesh
Monday, March 19: India v Bermuda
Wednesday, March 21: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh
Friday, March 23: India v Sri Lanka
Sunday, March 25: Bermuda v Bangladesh
GROUP C (ST LUCIA)
New Zealand
England
Kenya
Canada
Wednesday, March 14: Kenya v Canada
Friday, March 16: England v New Zealand
Sunday, March 18: England v Canada
Tuesday, March 20: New Zealand v Kenya
Thursday, March 22: New Zealand v Canada
Saturday, March 24: England v Kenya
GROUP D (JAMAICA)
Pakistan
West Indies
Zimbabwe
Ireland
Tuesday, March 13: West Indies v Pakistan
Thursday, March 15: Zimbabwe v Ireland
Saturday, March 17: Pakistan v Ireland
Monday, March 19: West Indies v Zimbabwe
Wednesday, March 21: Zimbabwe v Pakistan
Friday, March 23: West Indies v Ireland
SUPER EIGHT STAGE
Tuesday, March 27 - Sunday, April 22
Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Guyana, Barbados
SEMI-FINALS
Semi-final 1, Jamaica: Tuesday, April 24
Semi-final 2, St Lucia: Wednesday, April 25
FINAL
Barbados: Saturday, April 28.
