India to face Pakistan in World Twenty20 opener

Cricket rivals India and Pakistan were drawn against each other on Sunday for next year's World Twenty20, according to the ICC.

According to Sport24, India and Pakistan are among eight sides which have been given direct entry into the Super 10 stage of the competition, based on the ICC's T20 team rankings.

The Super 10 stage will start with a match between India and Pakistan in Mirpur on March 21, while the West Indies will begin their title defence on March 23 against India also in Mirpur, the report said.

The other teams with direct entry into the Super 10 stage are Australia, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa and New Zealand, the report added.

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, who finished outside the top eight in rankings, will compete with six other qualifying teams in the first round from March 16 to 21 for the remaining two places in the Super 10 stage, the report further said.

The eight teams in the first round have been divided into two groups of four teams, each with table-toppers progressing to the next stage, according to the report.