Four-time winners Australia begin the defence of their ICC Cricket World Cup title against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad, India, on February 21.

Australia, who defeated 1996 champions Sri Lanka in the 2007 final, will complete their Group A commitments in Colombo when they will take on 1992 winners Pakistan on March 19.

Co-hosts Bangladesh and 1983 winners India will go head to head in the opening match on February 19 in Dhaka, two days after the same city stages the opening ceremony. Other teams in that group are South Africa, England, West Indies, Ireland and Netherlands.

The quarter-finals will be played in Dhaka on March 23 and 25, in Colombo on March 24 and in Ahmedabad on March 26 - while the two semi-finals will be played in Colombo and Mohali on March 29 and 30. Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium will host the final on April 2.

A total of 49 matches will be played in the World Cup with India hosting 29 matches, including the final, a semi-final and a quarter-final; Sri Lanka 12 matches, including a semi-final and a quarter-final; and Bangladesh eight matches, including the opening matches, and two quarter-finals.

During the 43-day event spread over three countries, a total of 13 venues will be used. The 2011 event is a week shorter than the 2007 edition.

The top four from each group go through to the quarter-finals with the other teams eliminated.

2011 ICC World Cup groups and schedule

Group A: Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya

Group B: India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands

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