India will face England in the preliminary stages of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 contest, starting September 18 in Sri Lanka. England may find themselves up against familiar opponent when they start the protection of their ICC World Twenty20 crown in Colombo next year.
The champions, set to be captained by Stuart Broad, learned on Wednesday they will face one of the qualifying teams in their first match of the contest at the R Premadasa Stadium next September.
That day-night fixture, at the venue for the tournament's final and three days after hosts Sri Lanka's competition opener against Zimbabwe in Hambantota, could pit England against either Ireland or Scotland. Both those two country are among those who will bid to succeed for the final 16, in the United Arab Emirates in March.
England, who won their maiden International Cricket Council global trophy under Paul Collingwood's captaincy at the World Twenty20 in the West Indies last year, will then complete their group campaign against World Cup possessor and 2007 Twenty20 winners India - also at the Premadasa.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat attended Wednesday's press discussion in Colombo, where the schedule for next year's event - between September 18 and October 7 - was unveiled. He said:Following the legacies and success of the Cricket World Cup, I am positive that Sri Lanka will deliver another world-class event.
The ICC World Twenty20 is now a marquee event in Twenty20 cricket, where nations challenge each other for the most coveted title in the shortest format of the game.
Group fixtures schedule:Sep 18 - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota; Sep 19 - Australia v Qualifier 1 at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo;
Sep 19 - India v Qualifier 2 at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo;
Sep 20 - South Africa v Zimbabwe at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota;
Sep 21 - New Zealand v Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium;
Sep 21 - England v Qualifier 2 at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo;
Sep 22 - Sri Lanka v South Africa at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota;
Sep 22 - Australia v West Indies at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo;
Sep 23 - Pakistan v New Zealand at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium;
Sep 23 - England v India at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo;
Sep 24 - West Indies v Qualifier 1 at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo;
Sep 25 - Pakistan v Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.