England will have the chance to make amends for its disappointing tour of India when it meets the host nation in the opening group match of October's limited-overs cricket ICC Champions Trophy.
England and India open their tournament on Oct. 15 at Jaipur after the completion of the preliminary round, International Cricket Council manager Brian Murgatroyd said at the announcement of the tournament schedule yesterday.
England lost 5-1 to India in their one-day series this month.
England and India are drawn in Group A along with three-time world champion Australia, while Pakistan, South Africa and New Zealand head up Group B. Each group will be joined by a qualifier from the preliminary round, starting on Oct. 7.
Defending champion the West Indies must qualify for the group stage after falling outside the ICC's top six ranked nations.
Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will also contest the four-nation, preliminary round-robin format.
The semifinals will be played in the Indian cities of Mohali and Jaipur on Nov. 1 and 2 respectively, while the final will be held at Bombay on Nov. 5.
New Zealand plays South Africa on Oct. 16 in their opening match, while Pakistan meets the top-ranked qualifier on Oct. 17 and Australia takes on the second-ranked qualifier Oct. 18.
All fixtures will be day-night matches.
New Zealand reached 62 for one at lunch after being sent in to bat on the first day of the second Test against South Africa at Newlands yesterday.
Andre Nel claimed the only wicket of a shortened morning when he bowled Michael Papps for 22, ending a 50-run opening stand between Papps and Peter Fulton (36 not out).
Nel played in place of all-rounder Shaun Pollock, who was a late withdrawal from the South African team because of lower back pain.
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