The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is being contested by 20 teams, divided into four groups of five in the first round. The number of sides will be cut down to eight in the second round, with the top two teams from each group going through. The Super Eights will have two groups, with four teams each, from where the top two sides from each will qualify for the semi-finals.

Group One in the Super Eights will comprise of the team that topped Group A (A1) and Group C (C1), along with the second-best team from Group B (B2) and Group D (D2). Group 2 will have the best side from Group B (B1) and Group D (D1), as well as the side that finished second from Group A (A2) and C (C2).

However, unlike the last few editions, where there was greater emphasis on where teams finished in the first round as it would determine the opponents they met in the second, the ICC has already decided the fixtures in the Super Eight stage, barring any upsets.

How have they done this? While making the groups of four with five teams each for Round 1, the ICC seeded teams according to the rankings. These first-round seedings will be retained by the teams for the second round, leaving little scope for last-minute changes in schedule despite a slip-up by any team.

What are the seedings of the 20 teams in the first round of the T20 World Cup?

For example, even if Sri Lanka end as the top team in Group D and South Africa finish second, it would have had no bearing on where they ended up in the Super Eight. South Africa will still go through as D1 and Sri Lanka as D2.

If West Indies and Afghanistan make it from Group C, with West Indies finishing on top of the table - a possibility, based on how things stand currently - they will still not end as C1. If the higher-seeded team is knocked out early, the team that replaces them will assume the schedule of that side in the Super Eight. Thus, Afghanistan will displace New Zealand as C1. Group D might have a similar scenario.

As things stand as of June 10, the Super Eight groups are likely to be: India, Australia, Afghanistan (in place of New Zealand) and Sri Lanka/Bangladesh. Group B is likely to comprise the USA (over Pakistan), Scotland (if England do not make it), West Indies and South Africa.

This is not the first time that the Super Eight groups were decided before the tournament, with the ICC naming the seedings in the first four editions of the T20 World Cup (2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012).

The ICC have seemingly brought back the format to enable fans to travel to the Caribbean and the USA for their team’s fixtures, although the surprise element remains amiss, with India’s semi-final destination already decided as well (Guyana), irrespective of where they end up in the Super Eights as long as they qualify.

The Super Eight will begin on June 19, with the two semi-finals on June 27, two days before the final.

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