World Cup Cricket Schedule Released

India will open their 2011 cricket World Cup campaign against Bangladesh in Dhaka on February 19 and the country will host its first match of the mega-event the next day in Chennai, the ICC announced on Monday.

Placed in Group B, alongside South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and Netherlands, India will host 29 matches of the quadrennial tournament, including the final and a semifinal.

The first match on Indian soil will have New Zealand and Kenya locking horns in Chennai on February 20.

Denied hosting rights owing to security concerns, Pakistan will play all their group A matches in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, set to host the second biggest chunk of 12 matches in the event, will have their first game on February 20 with the hosts taking on Canada.

The Lankans are in group A, which also has defending champions Australia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

Bangladesh, which will host two quarterfinals, will have just eight matches in all to organise.

India's commercial capital Mumbai will host the final of the February-March event.

Mohali will host one of the semi-finals along with two other matches, while Ahmedabad will host a quarter-final and two other games.

Kolkata and Delhi will host one India and three other matches each. Jaipur has been left out of the list of venues with Nagpur, Chennai and Bangalore getting one India game each.

Following is the 2011 World Cup schedule:
 
February 19 - Bangladesh v India at Dhaka

Feb 20 - New Zealand v Kenya at Chennai

Feb 20 - Sri Lanka v Canada at Hambantoto

Feb 21 - Australia v Zimbabwe at Ahmedabad

Feb 22 - England v Netherlands at Nagpur

Feb 23 - Pakistan v Kenya at Hambantota

Feb 24 - South Africa v West Indies at Delhi

Feb 25 - Australia v New Zealand at Nagpur

Feb 25 - Bangladesh v Ireland at Dhaka

Feb 26 - Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Colombo

Feb 27 - India v England at Kolkata

Feb 28 - West Indies v Netherland at Delhi

Feb 28 - Zimbabwe v Canada at Nagpur

March 1 - Sri Lanka v Kenya at Colombo

March 2 - England v Ireland at Bangalore

March 3 - South Africa v Netherlands at Mohali

March 3 - Pakistan v Canada at Colombo

March 4 - New Zealand v Zimbabwe at Ahmedabad

March 4 - Bangladesh v West Indies at Dhaka

March 5 - Sri Lanka v Australia at Colombo

March 6 - England v South Africa at Chennai

March 6 - India v Ireland at Bangalore

March 7 - Kenya v Canada at Delhi

March 8 - Pakistan v New Zealand at Pallekele

March 9 - India v Netherland at Delhi

March 10 - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Pallekele

March 11 - Bangladesh v England at Chittagong

March 11 - West Indies v Ireland at Mohali

March 12 - India v South Africa at Nagpur

26 World Cup matches will be played in India. Final will be played in Mumbai. Pakistan will play all its group matches in Sri Lanka. If enters the semi-final, Pakistan can play in India, Sharad Pawar said.

Group A - Australia , Pakistan , New Zealand . Srilanka . Zimbabwe . Canada and Kenya

Group B - India , South Africa , England , West Indies , Bangaladesh , Ireland and Netherlands