India to face South Africa in Champions Trophy opener at Cardiff

World champions India is to face South Africa at Cardiff, Wales in the opening match of Champions League next year.

The match will be played on June 6, 2013 in Cardif. The hosts of the Champions league, England will start the tournament by playing defending champions Australia in Edgbaston.

The Champions Trophy, also referred as "mini World Cup", includes world's eight leading nations competing against each other in 50-overs cricket.

To be held next year, Group A will include Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, while Group B would include India, Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies.

In addition to Cardiff and Edgbaston, The Oval in south London will also stage Champions Trophy fixtures, with the final to be played at Edgbaston on June 23.

One of the most awaited clash in the league would be the match between India and Pakistan in Birmingham, which has one of Britain's largest South Asian populations, on June 15.

"This will be a terrific opportunity for fans to see the world's very best one-day sides in action over the space of less than three weeks and the fixture schedule has thrown up a host of exciting head-to-head contests," Sports24 quoted tournament director Steve Elworthy, as saying.

This will be the seventh and last edition of Champions Trophy , which will be replaced by the International Cricket Council's new World Test Championship later.

ICC Champions Trophy 2013 schedule:

Venues: The Oval (London), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Cardiff

Group A: Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka

Group B: India, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies

-With inputs from ANI