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The two South Asian giants last met at the 2019 World Cup in England, where India won, maintaining their World Cup unbeaten record against Pakistan.
Fierce rivals India and Pakistan will meet on October 24 at this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council said as the tournament’s delayed matches are announced.
The 16-nation tournament – to be held in the United Arab Emirates and Oman – kicks off on October 17 with Oman facing Papua New Guinea in the opener, followed by an evening game between Scotland and Bangladesh in the first round of the competition.
The top two teams from Group A and Group B in the first round will advance to the so-called Super 12 stage, where the heavyweight nations of the game will join the tournament.
The reigning West Indies champions are in Group 1 with Australia, 2010 England champions and South Africa. India and Pakistan are joined by New Zealand and Afghanistan in Group 2.
Australia face title-holding South Africa and the West Indies meet England in Group 1 matches on 23 October at the start of the Super 12, which will ultimately decide the four semi-finalists.
But the spotlight will be on the India-Pakistan Group 2 contest in Dubai, with the two rival nations only meeting at multinational events due to tensions over Kashmir, a disputed Himalayan territory claimed by the two neighbors with the ‘nuclear weapon.
Virat Kohli’s Indian team will have a busy schedule ahead of the tournament [Glyn Kirk/AFP]The two South Asian giants last met at the 2019 50th World Cup in England, where India won, maintaining their unbeaten record against Pakistan in the World Cup.
England, the 2009 winners, will face Australia in another key clash on October 30 in Dubai.
The tournament, which will be hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was originally scheduled to take place in Australia in late 2020.
But it was canceled as the coronavirus pandemic swept the world.
It was next to be held in India this year, but was moved to the United Arab Emirates and Oman after the South Asian nation was hit by a massive increase in virus cases in April and May.
The matches will take place at four venues: Dubai International Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Stadium and Oman Cricket Academy Ground.
Pakistani fan cheers his team on during the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup match between India and Pakistan in England [File: Rui Vieira/AP]The Super 12 round will run from October 23 to November 8 and the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals which will be played in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and Dubai on November 11.
The final will take place in Dubai on November 14 with a reserve day set aside for November 15.
The Indian team of Virat Kohli will have a busy schedule ahead of the tournament.
The Indian test team are currently playing a series in England and most of the players will return for the second half of the Indian Premier League, which is set to resume in the United Arab Emirates next month after being suspended in May as COVID surged in India.
West Indies T20 captain Kieron Pollard said his side are delighted to start the title defense after a year behind in the tournament.
“We can’t wait to get started,” he said.
“Caribbean cricketers have always played an exciting brand of cricket and I am sure our fans across the Caribbean and around the world have high expectations to see us in action.”
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