Cricket: Aces to face Knight Riders first up

The format and schedule for the 2011 Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) qualifying event that features the Auckland Aces has been announced.

The Auckland Aces were invited to the event after winning the 2010-11 HRV Cup.

Seven of the ten teams qualify automatically with the Auckland Aces joining five other sides in the quest for one of three remaining spots in the main competition.

The six teams are divided into two pools where they play each other once. The top two teams from each group advance along with the third side on the points table with even teams separated by net run-rate.

The Aces will compete in pool A and play IPL side the Kolkata Knight Riders first up on Monday 19 September before their second match on Tuesday 20 September against and a team from England who are yet to be invited.

The qualifying tournament will be held in Hyderabad between 19-21 September 2011, just prior to the CLT20 group stages.

Schedule:
Mon 19 Sep Kolkata Knight Riders v Auckland Aces, Hyderabad
Tue 20 Sep ECB2 v Auckland Aces, Hyderabad

QUALIFYING POOL A
A1 Kolkata Knight Riders (India)
A2 ECB2 (England)
A3 Auckland (NZ)

QUALIFYING POOL B
B1 Trinidad & Tobago (West Indies)
B2 ECB1 (England)
B3 SLC (Sri Lanka)

- HERALD ONLINE