SOLAR NEWS

England will meet Canada and Pakistan in warm-up matches ahead of next year’s World Cup.

The schedule for the practice games was revealed by the International Cricket Council today, six months before the tournament - to be held in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka - gets under way.

England take on Canada in Dhaka on February 16 and Pakistan under the floodlights at the same venue two days later, the last of the 14 warm-up contests across three countries in the space of six days.

England's first group game is against the Netherlands in Nagpur on February 22.

Reigning champions Australia complete their preparations for the defence of their title with matches against India and South Africa.

“Today means that the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is exactly six months away,” said ICC president Sharad Pawar.

“Let there be no doubt whatsoever that the ICC, along with the three co-hosts, will ensure that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is the best of all the World Cups staged so far.”

Tickets for the World Cup proper went on sale today. For more information visiticcevents.yahoo.com.

February 12
New Zealand v Ireland (d/n), Nagpur
Zimbabwe v South Africa (d/n), Chennai
West Indies v Kenya, Colombo
Sri Lanka v the Netherlands, Pallekele
Bangladesh v Canada (d/n), Chittagong

February 13
India v Australia (d/n), Bangalore

February 15
Australia v South Africa (d/n), Bangalore
Ireland v Zimbabwe, Nagpur
Kenya v the Netherlands, Pallekele
Bangladesh v Pakistan (d/n), Dhaka

February 16
India v New Zealand (d/n), Chennai
Sri Lanka v West Indies, Colombo
England v Canada, Dhaka

February 18
England v Pakistan (d/n), Dhaka