Dethroned Twenty20 World Champions India have been placed alongside South Africa and a qualifier team in Group C for the next year’s third edition of the tournament to be played in the West Indies.

Holders Pakistan are in the Group A where they will have to ward off the challenges from Bangladesh and Australia to advance in the event starting April 30, according to the 2010 World Twenty20 Match schedule announced by the International Cricket Council on Sunday.

Runners-up Sri Lanka constitute the Group B with New Zealand and Zimbabwe while the hosts West Indies, England and a second qualifying team will comprise the Group D.

The West Indies will play the second qualifying team in the opening match of the biennial event, which is being staged next year immediately after its 2009 England edition to prevent its clash with the 2011 ODI World Cup in the sub-continent.

India, who were knocked out in the Super Eight stage of the second edition, are lined up to play the first qualifiers in their opener, slated on May 1, which will be the second day of the 17-day tournament. The tournament will feature as many as 27 matches with the semi-finals being played on May 13 and 14 and final slated on May 16.

For the simultaneously played women’s event, teams have been divided into two groups — ‘A’ and ‘B’. Semi-finalists India are in Group B with New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan while England, Australia, the West Indies and South Africa make the Group A.

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