Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will have a mega face-off in international cricket once more when the ICC Men's T20 World Cup begins from October 17 in the UAE and Oman. The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced the groups for the event to be hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

India will feature in Group 2 that will also comprise Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan and the other two qualifiers from Round 1.

Group 1 will see defending champions West Indies pooled along with former champions England, Australia and South Africa in Group 1 of the Super 12s, with two qualifiers from Round 1 joining them.

Eight teams will contest the first round including automatic qualifiers Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with the remaining six who booked their spot through the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019. Ireland, Netherlands and Namibia join Sri Lanka in Group A, whilst Oman, PNG and Scotland will face Bangladesh in Group B. 

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said, “It is good to get Oman in the frame of world cricket with the hosting of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. It will help a lot of young players take an interest in the game. We know it will be a world class event in this part of the world.”