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Colombo - The Proteas have been paired with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in group C of next year's World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka.
Defending champions England and India have also been placed in the same preliminary group (A), the sport's governing body said on Wednesday.
A yet-to-be determined qualifier will be the third team in group A, the International Cricket Council announced at the tournament launch in Colombo.
Australia, West Indies and a qualifier are drawn in group B and Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh in group D.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Eights round, which will also be contested in two pools. The first two in each pool will advance to the semi-finals.
The two-yearly tournament in cricket's shortest format will be played from September 18 to October 7, with Hambantota holding three matches, Pallekele nine and capital Colombo 15.
The Premadasa stadium in Colombo will host the semi-finals on Oct 4 and 5 and the final on Oct 7.
The two qualifiers will be determined through a separate competition between non-Test nations to be held in the United Arab Emirates from March 13-24.
The eight-nation women's tournament will run from Sept 26 to Oct 7 with the league matches in Galle, and the semi-finals and final in Colombo on the same days and at the same venue as the men's knock-out matches.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat was confident the tournament will be as successful as the three previous editions in South Africa (2007), England (2009) and the West Indies (2010).
"The ICC World Twenty20 is now a marquee event in Twenty20 cricket where nations face each other for the most coveted title in the shortest format of the game," said Lorgat.
"Nothing beats nation-versus-nation contests and when these battles take place in the newest, sharpest and quickest form of the game, you can feel the excitement in fans.
"Following the legacies and success of the World Cup, I am confident that Sri Lanka will deliver another world-class event."
Lorgat said it was significant the men's and women's knock-out games will be played on the same dates at one venue.
"Those match days provide a great setting for both the men’s and women’s game and we remain committed to showcase women’s cricket in this way, which is unique in the world of team sports," he said.
Groups and schedule for the 2012 World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka in 2012:
Preliminary league:
Group A: England, India, Qualifier 2
Group B: Australia, West Indies, Qualifier 1
Group C: Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Group D: Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh
Schedule:
Sept 18: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Hambantota
Sept 19: Australia v Q1, Colombo
: India v Q2, Colombo
Sept 20: South Africa v Zimbabwe, Hambantota
Sept 21: New Zealand v Bangladesh, Pallekele
: England v Q2, Colombo
Sept 22: Sri Lanka v South Africa, Hambantota
: Australia v West Indies, Colombo
Sept 23: Pakistan v New Zealand, Pallekele
: England v India, Colombo
Sept 24: West Indies v Q1, Colombo
Sept 25: Pakistan v Bangladesh, Pallekele
Super-Eights
Group one: A1, B2, C1, D2
Group two: A2, B1, C2, D1
Schedule:
Sept 27: C1 v D2, Pallekele
: A1 v B2, Pallekele
Sept 28: D1 v C2, Colombo
: B1 v A2, Colombo
Sept 29: A1 v D2, Pallekele
: C1 v B2, Pallekele
Sept 30: B1 v C2, Colombo
: D1 v A2, Colombo
Oct 1 : B2 v D2, Pallekele
: A1 v C1, Pallekele
Oct 2 : B1 v D1, Colombo
: A2 v C2, Colombo
Semi-finals
Oct 4 : Group one winners v Group two runners-up, Colombo
Oct 5 : Group one runners-up v Group two champions, Colombo
Final
Oct 7: Final, Colombo.
