India to open WC title defense against Pakistan

CRICKET: The schedule for the 2015 World Cup, the most pivotal event of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has been released. The event will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29.

Defending Champions and the top ODI side of the world, India, placed in group ‘B’, arch-rivals Pakistan await India in the first face-off of the teams.

After the schedule was released by the ICC officials, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who helped India end a 28-year deficit, by winning the biggest event of the game in 2011, said - "It only seems like yesterday that we won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in front of a passionate and supportive home crowd."

"World Cup is a very special event for every cricketer because it only takes place every four years. Having tasted success in Mumbai in 2011, we’ll be working very hard to retain it.

"I’m keenly looking forward to the tournament and confident that we’ll do well. Our recent victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 has provided the team with a lot of confidence, and I am sure this experience will help us in our preparations for the World Cup in 2015," he added.

India’s Schedule:
`Zimbabwe at Eden Park, Auckland (on March 14).
`South Africa in Melbourne on February 22).
`Qualifier 4 in Perth on February 28.
`West Indies in Perth on March 6.
`Ireland in Hamilton on March 10.