2003 World Cup host South Africa will play the West Indies in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, when the teams meet in Colombo on Thursday, 12th September.

Each of the 12 competing nations will play two games in the Pool stage of the tournament, between the 12th and 23rd September. The semi finals will take place on Wednesday 25th and Friday 27th, with the final scheduled for Sunday 29th September.

The full match schedule announced by the ICC today, is as follows:

1   Thursday 12th September     South Africa v West Indies
2   Friday 13th September       Sri Lanka v Pakistan
3   Saturday 14th September     India v Zimbabwe
4   Sunday 15th September       Australia v New Zealand
5   Monday 16th September       West Indies v Kenya
6   Tuesday 17th September      Sri Lanka v Holland
7   Wednesday 18th September    England v Zimbabwe
8   Thursday 19th September     Australia v Bangladesh
9   Friday 20th September       South Africa v Kenya
10  Saturday 21st September     Pakistan v Holland
11  Sunday 22nd September       England v India
12  Monday 23rd September       New Zealand v Bangladesh
    Tuesday 24th September      REST DAY
13  Wednesday 25th September    SEMI FINAL 1
    Winner Pool 2 v Winner Pool 3
    Thursday 26th September     RESERVE DAY - SEMI FINAL 1
14  Friday 27th September       SEMI FINAL 2
    Winner Pool 1 v Winner Pool 4
    Saturday 28th September     RESERVE DAY - SEMI FINAL 2
15  Sunday 29th September       FINAL
    Winner Semi Final 1 v Winner Semi Final 2
    Monday 30th September       RESERVE DAY - FINAL

Teams have been pooled into four groups and ranked on their final position in the 2000 ICC Knockout, held in Nairobi, Kenya, where New Zealand beat India in a thrilling final. The Champions Trophy Pool allocations are:

Pool 1        Pool 2     Pool 3         Pool 4
Australia     England    Kenya          Holland	
Bangladesh    India      South Africa   Pakistan
New Zealand   Zimbabwe   West Indies    Sri Lanka

Two venues in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo will be utilised for the tournament. These will be confirmed in the near future, together with a decision on the use of day/night matches.

Media contacts:

Mark Harrison	David Clarke
ICC Communications Manager	ICC Communications
Tel: + 44 20 7266 7913	Tel: + 44 20 7266 7914
Mobile: 0787 944 1891	Mobile: 07774 476398
E Mail: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com	E Mail: david.clarke@icc-cricket.com

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