SA to meet Windies in ICC Champions Trophy opener

South Africa, the hosts of next year's cricket World Cup, will play West Indies in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September.

The International Cricket Council announced the full tournament schedule on Thursday, with the opening game set for September 12 in Colombo.

Each of the 12 competing nations will play two games in the pool stage before the semifinals, with the final due to be staged on September 29.

The tournament is a revamped version of the ICC Knock-out Trophy, known as the 'mini World Cup' and which was last won by New Zealand.

Schedule:

Pool 1: Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand.
Pool 2: England, India, Zimbabwe.
Pool 3: South Africa, West Indies, Kenya.
Pool 4: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Holland.

Thursday, September 12: South Africa v West Indies

Friday, September 13: Sri Lanka v Pakistan

Saturday, September 14: India v Zimbabwe

Sunday, September 15: Australia v New Zealand

Monday, September 16: West Indies v Kenya

Tuesday, September 17: Sri Lanka v Holland

Wednesday, September 18: England v Zimbabwe

Thursday, September 19: Australia v Bangladesh

Friday, September 20: South Africa v Kenya

Saturday, September 21: Pakistan v Holland

Sunday, September 22: England v India

Monday, September 23: New Zealand v Bangladesh

Tuesday, September 24: Rest day

Wednesday, September 25: 1st semifinal - winner pool 2 v winner pool 3

Thursday, September 26: Reserve day

Friday, September 27: 2nd semifinal - winner pool 1 v winner pool 4

Saturday, September 28: Reserve day

Sunday, September 29: Final

Monday, September 30: Reserve day

Mail Cricket Editor