Sawt Falasteen - India, Pakistan to face off in group stage of T20 World Cup: ICC

Defending champions India and Pakistan have been placed in Group A in the 20-team competition being co-hosted by Sri Lanka, according to the schedule released by the International Cricket Council in Mumbai.

It will be the first time the two teams play each other since their three heated contests at the 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE, where they skipped the customary handshake at the toss and post-match greetings.

The Asia Cup was the first time they had met since a deadly border conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.

The T20 World Cup will see Pakistan playing all their matches in Sri Lanka, part of a compromise deal that allows both India and Pakistan to play at neutral venues in multi-nation tournaments.

Matches in the tournament will be held from February 7 across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka.

Cricket-made India, the world's most populous nation, is the epicentre of the T20 game through its lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), boasting top global stars.

The tournament will use the same format as 2024 -- 20 teams in four groups, ahead of a Super Eights phase, with the top two finishers from each group making it to the playoffs.

The final will be played on March 8 either in Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on whether Pakistan go all the way.

- Newcomers Italy -

India enter the sport's 10th edition of the showcase T20 tournament as reigning champions, having beaten South Africa by seven runs in 2024 in Barbados.

Indian fans are dreaming of seeing their men's team win a second time at home, after they clinched the 50-over World Cup in Mumbai in 2011.

India's women celebrated a watershed moment this month, when the team won their first World Cup crown, beating South Africa in the final at Mumbai.

Indian broadcaster JioHotstar said the viewing figures of the final on their app matched that of the men's T20 World Cup 2024 summit clash, a "staggering 185 million users", according to the ICC.

Alongside hosts India and Sri Lanka, top finishers from the 2024 edition taking part are Australia, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, United States and West Indies.

From Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe have qualified. From Europe, Ireland, the Netherlands and -- for the first time -- Italy are also playing.

Also included are Nepal, Oman and United Arab Emirates.

Ahmedabad, in the western state of Gujarat, is home to a 130,000-seater arena which is the world's biggest cricket stadium, named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The city is in prime position to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with a final announcement on Wednesday.

India has its eyes on a bigger prize, having submitted a formal letter of intent last year to the International Olympic Committee to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.

B.AbuZeid--SF-PST