Host Pakistan and 2006 runner-up the West Indies will open the Champions Trophy on Sept. 11, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Saturday. “The opening match will be between Pakistan and the West Indies while defending champion and top seed Australia will open its campaign against India on 13 Sept. in Lahore,” the ICC said. The sixth edition of the biennial event, regarded as the second biggest competition in cricket after the World Cup, will run from Sept. 11-28. An ICC advanced delegation is in Pakistan and has assessed facilities and security arrangements in Lahore and Rawalpindi. They will assess the third venue in Karachi on Sunday. The eight teams in the 2008 trophy will play on a round-robin basis with two teams from each group progressing to the semifinals. “As discussed at the ICC Board meeting earlier this week in Dubai, a full independent security assessment of the situation in Pakistan will be conducted in June,” the ICC said. A recent spate of suicide bomb blasts has raised security fears in Pakistan which forced the Australian team to postpone their tour to the troubled country earlier this month. However, the ICC maintained the event will be held in Pakistan subject to security clearance. Sri Lanka is the alternative venue in case Pakistan is not given clearance. “As compared to the 2006 tournament when 21 matches were played over 29 days, 15 matches will be played in 17 days this year in what is a much shorter, sharper format,” the ICC said. The first semifinal will be played in Karachi on Sept. 24 while Rawalpindi will host the second semifinal the following day. The final will be held in Lahore on Sept. 28. The following are the two groups (with seedings in brackets): Group A: Australia (1), India (4), Pakistan (5), West Indies (8) Group B: South Africa (2), New Zealand (3), Sri Lanka (6), England (7). Schedule Sept. 11: Pakistan vs. West Indies, Lahore. Sept. 12: New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka, Karachi. Sept. 13: Australia vs. India, Lahore. Sept. 14: England vs. Sri Lanka, Karachi. Sept. 15: South Africa vs. New Zealand, Rawalpindi. Sept. 16: West Indies vs. India, Karachi. Sept. 17: Pakistan vs. Australia, Rawalpindi. Sept. 18: South Africa vs. Sri Lanka, Lahore. Sept. 19: England vs. New Zealand, Rawalpindi. Sept. 20: Pakistan vs. India, Lahore. Sept. 21: Australia vs. West Indies, Karachi Sept. 21: England vs. South Africa, Rawalpindi. Sept. 24: 1st semifinal, Karachi. Sept. 25: 2nd semifinal, Rawalpindi. Sept. 28: Final, Lahore. __
