ICC confirms seedings for ICC Cricket World Cup 2007

The International Cricket Council today confirmed the seeding details for the ninth ICC Cricket World Cup, to be played at eight venues in the Caribbean in 2007.

The ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 will involve a record 16 teams that will initially be split into four groups of four, contesting a round robin group stage with the top two teams from each group progressing to the Super Eights stage.

In the Super Eights, each team will play against every other team it has not already played. The result of the game between the two leading teams in the group stage will be carried forward. The top four teams at the end of the Super Eights will qualify for the semi-finals.

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said that confirmation of the seedings raised the prospect of some thrilling encounters in the early stages of the tournament: "Although we are nearly two years away from the tournament, there are already a number of mouth-watering clashes in prospect. Host team West Indies against Pakistan looks to be a key game in Pool 4, while the presence of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Pool 2, allied to the Asian cultural influence in Trinidad and Tobago, will make for a wonderful atmosphere and some compelling cricket," said Mr Speed.

Australia, England, India and West Indies were pre-seeded into separate groups in July 2004 to ensure that transport, accommodation and other logistical issues in the West Indies could be effectively managed.

ICC Cricket World Cup holder Australia will be based in St Kitts and Nevis, India's group will be hosted by Trinidad and Tobago, England will play its group games in St Lucia and host nation West Indies, will begin its campaign in Jamaica.

Subject to this pre-seeding, the 11 teams with current One-Day International status have been seeded in the four ICC Cricket World Cup groups according to their official position in the LG ICC ODI Championship table on 1 April 2005.

Final seedings and team locations are as follows:

The seedings for the remaining five teams will be determined by their qualifying performances in the ICC Trophy Ireland 2005.

Tournament dates and a full fixtures schedule for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 will be announced shortly after the completion of the ICC Trophy in mid-July.