Holders Pakistan are in the Group A where they will have to ward off the challenges from Bangladesh and Australia to advance in the event starting April 30, according to the 2010 World Twenty20 Match schedule announced by the International Cricket Council on Sunday.

Runners-up Sri Lanka constitute the Group B with New Zealand and Zimbabwe while the hosts West Indies, England and a second qualifying team will comprise the Group D.

The West Indies will play the second qualifying team in the opening match of the biennial event, which is being staged next year immediately after its 2009 England edition to prevent its clash with the 2011 ODI World Cup in the sub-continent.

India, who were knocked out in the Super Eight stage of the second edition, are lined up to play the first qualifiers in their opener, slated on May 1, which will be the second day of the 17-day tournament. The tournament will feature as many as 27 matches with the semi-finals being played on May 13 and 14 and final slated on May 16.

For the simultaneously played women’s event, teams have been divided into two groups — ‘A’ and ‘B’. Semi-finalists India are in Group B with New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan while England, Australia, the West Indies and South Africa make the Group A.

All first round matches of the women’s world cup will be played in St Kitts, the ICC statement said. The women’s tournament, which will feature 15 matches including semi-finals and the final, start on May 5 with the West Indies eves taking on their South African counterparts. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face off on May 8. The women’s semi-finals and final will be played on the same days as that of men’s.

Ticket prices lowered

The ICC announced low-priced tickets for the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup in a bid to host sold out matches in the Caribbean next year. “Tickets have been priced to ensure the venues are as full as possible for all 42 matches,” said an ICC statement on Sunday.

In another attraction for fans, the ICC has also decided to provide free entry to Under-16s for all matches in Guyana and all first round matches in St Lucia. The highest-priced ticket for all men’s first round and Super Eights matches is just $15 while all women’s group games will be free entry. For either of the two semi-final men’s and women’s double-headers in St Lucia on May 13 and 14, ticket range starts from just $10 for adults and $6 for Under-16s. The top ticket-price for the final day is only $40.

Tickets are set to go on sale in the Caricom market on November 1, 2009, with sales to the rest of the world commencing two weeks later, on November 15.