Associated Press

London, April 1:

The West Indies will play Pakistan in the opening group stage of the 2007 World Cup after seedings were decided by the ICC today.

The ICC used Friday’s rankings in the one-day international table to determine the seedings. Australia, Sri Lanka, India and host West Indies were already seeded in July 2004 and each placed in one of the four groups.

Top-seeded Australia is in Group One, based in St Kitts and Nevis with South Africa and two teams yet to be decided.

Sri Lanka leads Group Two, based in Trinidad and Tobago, with India, Bangladesh and a qualifier while England is grouped with New Zealand, Kenya and a qualifier in Group Three.

Jamaica will host Group Four games involving Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe and a qualifier.

The five qualifiers will be determined at the ICC Trophy, held June 27-July 13 in Ireland. The top two teams will advance from the group stage to Super Eights.