The Black Caps will take on Afghanistan in their first match for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
New Zealand have been drawn in Group C alongside the West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea.
Their opening match will be against Afghanistan on June 7 at Providence Stadium, Guyana.
The other group matches include the West Indies on June 12, Uganda on June 14, and Papua New Guinea on June 17. All three will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.
Co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA, the ninth edition of the event will take place in June this year, with a record 20 teams divided into four groups competing across 55 games.
The USA will host only group matches in Dallas, Florida and New York, while the Super Eight, semi-finals and final will be played in the West Indies.
The final will be played at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29.
The USA will take on Canada in the tournament opener at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas on June 1.
A highly anticipated match will be India vs Pakistan, with one of cricket’s biggest rivalries playing out at a 34,000-seat stadium currently under construction in New York on June 9.
Reigning champions England will begin their title defence on June 4 against Scotland in Barbados, then going onto play Ashes rivals Australia on June 8.
ICC chief executive George Allardice said that the tournament marks an “exciting expansion of our sport with more teams than ever before.”
“The release of the fixtures is made even more exciting for fans as we enter a new frontier, with the USA hosting a major ICC event for the first time. With 16 matches being played across three venues in the USA, it allows us to make a statement in the world’s biggest sports market.”
Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief executive Johnny Grave said that the match schedule’s announcement marked a “significant milestone in our preparations for this year’s tournament.”
“Each host country and city will bring its own unique flavour to the tournament, and fans from every corner of the globe can expect an exciting blend of T20 cricketing entertainment, local culture and warm hospitality.”
The Black Caps lost to Pakistan in the semi-finals of the last tournament in Australia in 2022.
A year earlier, they recorded their best finish at the tournament as losing finalists against Australia in Dubai, UAE.
T20 World Cup Groups
Group A: India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and the USA
Group B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland and Oman
Group C: New Zealand, the West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda and Papua New Guinea
Group D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Nepal
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