How the Super Eights work

For the first round, the 12 competing teams were divided into four groups based on their seeding, which depended on their standings in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 (for the teams that took part in it). India, the champions, were seeded first; Pakistan, the runners-up, were seeded second, and the losing semi-finalists Australia and New Zealand third and fourth. The top four seeds were then put in different groups for this tournament.

The teams in the Super Eights are designated A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1 and D2; the names denote the group they qualified from and their pre-tournament seeding, NOT their position in the group. For example, Pakistan finished second in Group B but since they went into the tournament with a higher seed, they retain identification B1 while England remain B2 despite topping the group. When the third seeded team in the group knocks out a higher seed - as West Indies did to Australia in Group C - it will take the seeding of the knocked-out opponent. So West Indies are in the Super Eights as C1.

The Super Eights split the teams into two groups of four - A1, B2, C1 and D2 in Group E and A2, B1, C2 and D1 in Group F. Since this was based on the pre-tournament seeding, it has resulted in three group toppers - India, England and South Africa - from the first phase being together.

Each team will play the others in its pool with the top two from each group qualifying for the semi-finals. If teams are tied on points in a Super Eight group then the same parameters which were used to break a tie in the preliminary stage will be used, the difference being that only the Super Eight matches will be taken into consideration for most wins, net run-rate etc.

If all of the matches of a Super Eight group are ruined by rain, the teams will be ranked on basis of most points, most wins, net run-rate during the group stage and the top two will go through. If the teams still cannot be separated the semi-finalists will be picked based on the original seeding for the tournament.

A one-over eliminator, or Super Over, will be used to break a tie in a semi-final, if one should occur. However, if weather prevents the Super Over from taking place after a tie, the team which progresses to the final will be determined by looking at who has the most wins, better net run-rate, higher number of wickets per balls, the only difference being that this time both group and Super Eight matches will be taken into consideration.

The final, however, has no such provisions. If the final is tied, the match will be decided by a one-over eliminator. If the eliminator cannot take place because of bad weather, then the two finalists will be declared joint winners.