India to face Bangladesh in its opening match in 2011 World Cup

Mumbai, Nov.9 (ANI): India will take on Bangladesh in its first match of 2011 World Cup tournament on February 19 in Mirpur, Dhaka.

The 43-day cricket tournament is being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The first match takes place two days after the opening ceremony of the 14-nation showpiece at the same venue in Dhaka on February 17, as per the schedule released by the ICC.

The final match will be played at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium on April 2.

India will host 29 matches at eight venues, Sri Lanka 12 at three venues and Bangladesh eight at two places, after the ICC following the prevailing turbulence in the country removed Pakistan as co-hosts.

Meanwhile, the teams have been divided into two groups of seven each for the preliminary league, with the top four from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.

Australia, which is the defending champion, heads group A which includes Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and two qualifiers, Canada and Kenya.

The other group comprises India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh and qualifiers Ireland, Netherlands.

The 2011 event will be a week shorter than the one held in the Caribbean in 2007 and will have 49 matches, two less than the previous tournament(ANI)