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India, South Africa to kick-off ICC Champions Trophy

August 21, 2012 17:52 IST

World Cup holders India and South Africa will clash in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy, 50-over contest, at Cardiff in Wales on June 6, 2013, tournament hosts the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Tuesday.

The high-octane Group B clash between arch rivals India and Pakistan, in the three-week tournament, is on June 15 at Edgbaston.

The final of the eight-team tournament will be at Edgbaston on June 23 while the two semi-finals are on June 19 and 20 at the Oval and Cardiff, the ECB said.

The teams have been divided into Group A and B, with the top two in each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Group A: Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Group B: India, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies.

"This will be an incredible opportunity for fans to see the world's very best One-Day sides in action over the space of less than three weeks and the fixture schedule has thrown up a host of exciting head-to-head contests," tournament director Steve Elworthy said.

"The format means every match counts and all eight teams will feel that they are capable of winning the tournament in a competition which is set to be one of the highlights of the 2013 summer," he added.

The full schedule:

June 6, 2013: India v South Africa, Cardiff (Day)

June 7: West Indies v Pakistan, Oval (Day)

June 8: England v Australia, Edgbaston (Day)

June 9: Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Cardiff (Day)

June 10: Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

June 11: India v West Indies, Oval (Day)

June 12: Australia v New Zealand, Edgbaston (D/N)

June 13: England v Sri Lanka, Oval (D/N)

June 14: West Indie v South Africa, Cardiff (Day)

June 15: India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (Day)

June 16: England v New Zealand, Cardiff (Day)

June 17: Sri Lanka v Australia, Oval (D/N)

June 19: Semi-final A1 v B2, Oval (Day)

June 20: Semi-final A2 v B1, Cardiff (Day)

June 23: Final, Edgbaston (Day).