Australia snag tricky World T20 draw

Australia could well have to overcome two previous world champions if they are to emerge from a challenging group in next year's World T20 tournament in India.

The Australians have failed to win the Twenty20 tournament – international T20 cricket's showpiece event – from five attempts since 2007, when it was first launched, and have been drawn in Group 2 for next March's edition, alongside hosts and inaugural champions India, as well as 2009 winners Pakistan, New Zealand and a final nation to be determined by a round of qualifying matches in the lead-up.

Women's World T20: Southern Stars plot path to fourth title

Aaron Finch's side will be desperate to improve upon Australia's disappointing 2014 tournament in Bangladesh, when they won just one match en route to exiting in the group stages.

Image Id: ~/media/AA8A0497C00A46C889C7F5912F20AAF0

Australia won just one game at the 2014 World T20 // Getty Images

The Australians begin their tournament in Dharamsala on March 18 against the Black Caps, then travel to Bangalore for their match against the qualifying nation (March 21) before playing their final two matches in Mohali against Pakistan (March 25) and India (March 27).

Meanwhile, the eyes of the cricket world will be on the showdown between archrivals India and Pakistan on March 19 in Dharamsala.

The recent loss of Mitchell Starc – the world’s No.1 ODI bowler – is a massive blow, with the paceman recently ruled out of the tournament after it was revealed he would undergo surgery on his troublesome ankle.

Reigning champions Sri Lanka, set to play next year without retired champions Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, head up Group 1, alongside South Africa, West Indies, England and a qualifying nation.

Two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, to be played in Delhi on March 30 and Mumbai on March 31, with the winners of those matches to play off in the final in Kolkata on April 3.

No side has won the World T20 tournament twice, with England (2009) and West Indies (2010) adding their names to the trophy alongside subcontinent trio India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

World T20 Groups

Group 1: Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, England, Qualifier.

Group 2: Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Qualifier.

Qualifying groups

A: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Ireland, Oman.

B: Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong, Afghanistan.

Australia's matches

March 18 v New Zealand, Dharamsala

March 21 v Qualifier, Bangalore

March 25 v Pakistan, Mohali

March 27 v India, Mohali

WT20 Finals

March 30 - Semi Final 1, Delhi

March 31 - Semi Final 2, Mumbai

April 3 - Final, Kolkata 

Full tournament schedule

(‘M’ denotes men’s match; ‘W’ denotes women’s match; PM means afternoon match and Eve. means night match. Match timings to be confirmed in due course)

Tue, 8 Mar – Zimbabwe v Hong Kong (PM), Nagpur; Scotland v Afghanistan (Eve.), Nagpur

Wed, 9 Mar – Bangladesh v Netherlands (PM), Dharamsala; Ireland v Oman (Eve.), Dharamsala

Thu, 10 Mar – Scotland v Zimbabwe (PM), Nagpur; Hong Kong v Afghanistan (Eve.)

Fri, 11 Mar – Netherlands v Oman (PM), Dharamsala; Bangladesh v Ireland (Eve.), Dharamsala

Sat, 12 Mar – Zimbabwe v Afghanistan (PM), Nagpur; Scotland v Hong Kong (Eve.), Nagpur

Sun, 13 Mar – Netherlands v Ireland (PM), Dharamsala; Bangladesh v Oman (Eve.), Dharamsala

Tue, 15 Mar – India v Bangladesh (W) (PM), Bengaluru; New Zealand v Sri Lanka (W) (Eve.), New Delhi; New Zealand v India (M) (Eve), Nagpur

Wed, 16 Mar – West Indies v England (M) (PM), Mumbai; Pakistan v Q1A (M) (Eve.), Kolkata; West Indies v Pakistan (W) (Eve.), Chennai

Thu, 17 Mar – England v Bangladesh (W) (PM), Bengaluru; Sri Lanka v Q1B (M) (Eve.), Kolkata

Fri, 18 Mar – New Zealand v Ireland (W) (PM), Mohali; Australia v New Zealand (M) (PM), Dharamsala; South Africa v England (M) (Eve.), Mumbai; Australia v South Africa (W) (Eve.), Nagpur

Sat, 19 Mar – India v Pakistan (W) (PM), New Delhi; India v Pakistan (M) (Eve.), Dharamsala

Sun, 20 Mar – South Africa v Q1B (M) (PM), Mumbai; West Indies v Bangladesh (W) (PM), Chennai; Sri Lanka v Ireland (W) (Eve.), Mohali; Sri Lanka v West Indies (M) (Eve.), Bengaluru

Mon, 21 Mar – Australia v New Zealand (W) (PM), Nagpur; Australia v Q1A (M) (Eve.), Bengaluru

Tue, 22 Mar – England v India (W) (PM), Dharamsala; New Zealand v Pakistan (M) (Eve.), Mohali

Wed, 23 Mar – England v Q1B (M) (PM), New Delhi; India v Q1A (M), (Eve.), Bengaluru; South Africa v Ireland (W) (Eve.), Chennai

Thu, 24 Mar – England v West Indies (W) (Eve.), Dharamsala; Australia v Sri Lanka (W) (PM), New Delhi; Pakistan v Bangladesh (W) (Eve.), New Delhi

Fri, 25 Mar – Pakistan v Australia (M) (PM), Mohali; South Africa v West Indies (M), (Eve.), Nagpur

Sat, 26 Mar – Australia v Ireland (W) (PM), New Delhi; Q1A v New Zealand (M) (PM), Kolkata; England v Sri Lanka (M) (Eve.), New Delhi; South Africa v New Zealand (W) (Eve.), Bengaluru

Sun, 27 Mar – West Indies v India (W) (PM), Mohali; India v Australia (M) (Eve.), Mohali; England v Pakistan (W) (Eve.), Chennai; Q1B v West Indies (M) (PM), Nagpur;

Mon, 28 Mar – South Africa v Sri Lanka (W) (PM), Bengaluru; South Africa v Sri Lanka (M) (Eve.), New Delhi

Tue, 29 Mar – Rest/travel day

Wed, 30 Mar – Women’s semi-final (2nd group A v 1st group B) (PM), New Delhi; men’s semi-final (Super 10 Group 1 2nd v Super 10 Group 2 1st) (Eve.), New Delhi

Thu, 31 Mar – Women’s semi-final (1st group A v 2nd group B) (PM), Mumbai; men’s semi-final (Super 10 Group 1 2nd v Super 10 Group 2 1st) (Eve.), Mumbai

Fri, 1 Apr – Rest/travel day

Sat, 2 Apr – Rest/travel day

Sun, 3 April – Women’s final (PM), Kolkata; men’s final (Eve.), Kolkata