Sport

Black Caps draw Australia in T20 World Cup opener

15:48 pm on 21 January 2022

A rematch of last year's final between New Zealand and defending champions Australia will open the Super 12 phase of the men's T20 World Cup later this year.

Photo: David Gray/Photosport Ltd 2021

The draw for the 2022 tournament, to be hosted in Australia from 16 October to 13 November, was announced on Friday.

The Black Caps, who suffered an eight-wicket loss to Australia in the 2021 final in Dubai, are set to face their trans-Tasman rivals first-up in Sydney on 22 October.

Also in Group 1 will be England, Afghanistan, along with the winners of Group A and runners up in Group B from the first round.

Group 2 will feature India, Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, plus the Group B winners and Group A runners-up.

Sixteen nations are set to compete in the tournament, which will be played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Sri Lanka and Namibia will face off in the first round tournament opener in Geelong on 16 October in Group A, where they will be joined by two qualifiers.

Group B features the West Indies, Scotland and a further two qualifiers.

The final will be played under lights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 13 November.

- RNZ, Reuters