England discover T20 World Cup opponents

England’s opponents in the T20 World Cup group stages have been announced ahead of the 2020 competition in Australia.

In a landmark year for cricket, it is the first time the women and men’s T20 World Cups will be held as independent events in the same year and in the same host country.

England Women will face West Indies; however, the England men’s will face India, South Africa and Afghanistan.

England women’s group will include Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies and a qualifier.

The female competition is scheduled to take place from the 21 February until the final at the MCG on 8 March.

The final, due to played on International Women’s Day, is expected to attract a large attendance with organisers hoping to set a world record for the attendance for a women’s sporting fixture.

England’s male side will also face two qualifiers in the Super 12 stage.

The world’s top-ranked team, Pakistan, will face hosts Australia in the opening match of the Super 12 group, which also included West Indies, New Zealand and two more qualifiers.

The final automatic Super 12 places, based on the International Cricket Council’s rankings on 31 December 2018, was claimed by Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh must compete in the first round alongside six teams who make it through the ICC Global Qualfiier – which could include home nations Ireland and Scotland.

The men’s tournament begins on 18 October 2020 and finishes on 15 November with the final at the MCG.