Magazine : 
ICC Men's T20 WC'24: India, Australia in Super 8; England, SA, Windies Grouped
The groups and schedules for the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 have been finalized. Hosts West Indies and USA are assured of progressing to the next round, where eight teams will compete for semifinal berths. India and debutants USA advanced from Group A, while Australia and England secured spots from Group B. In Group C, two-time champions West Indies and Afghanistan progressed, and in Group D, South Africa and Bangladesh also moved forward.
Now, the eight teams are split into two groups. Group A features India, Australia, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, while Group B consists of newcomers USA alongside England, West Indies, and South Africa. Notably, both co-hosts find themselves in Group B.
Four of the Super 8 qualifiers -- India, England, West Indies and Australia have won the World Cup previously. Super 8 matches will be played across four West Indies venues: Antigua and Barbuda (four matches), Barbados (three matches), Saint Lucia (three matches) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (two matches). The Super 8 stage will start with the USA taking on South Africa at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua.
India will kick off their Super 8 stage against Afghanistan, their neighbors, at 8 pm on Thursday at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Many experts view this match as a potential challenge for the 2007 Champions, as Afghanistan has once again impressed with their strong performance in the T20 World Cup, following their impressive showing in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
In their other Super 8 stage matches, Rohit Sharma's India will take on Bangladesh at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua on June 22 and will wind up their engagements in this stage against former winners Australia at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia, on June 24. The top two teams from each of the two Super 8 groups will qualify for the semifinals, which will be played on June 27 (as per IST). The final will be played at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Bridgetown at 8 pm IST on June 29.
