India to face Windies, South Africa in T20 World Cup warm-up ties

Dubai, 17 January - India will face the West Indies and South Africa in two warm-up matches ahead of the World Twenty20 cricket Championship, which bowls off in March.

Hosts India will face the world number one T20 side the West Indies on March 10 at rhe Eden Gardens in Kolkata, according to the warm-up fixtures released by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

India will play the second warm-up game against South Africa at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 13.

The West Indies will play another practice match at Eden Gardens against Australia on March 13.

India have been clubbed in Group 2 along with New Zealand, Pakistan and Australia and a qualifier advancing from the first round.

The West Indies have been drawn in Group 1 of the Super 10 stage of the T20 World Cup and will play alongside England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and one of the qualifiers from the first round.

The tournament will be staged across eight venues in India from 8 March to 3 April.

New Delhi and Mumbai will host the semi-finals on March 30 and 31, respectively, while Eden Gardens in Kolkata will be the venue of the April 3 final.