WI women face difficult fixtures at T20 World Cup

West Indies cricketers
West Indies cricketers celebrate with the trophy after winning against Autralia during the final of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2016 cricket tournament at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Associated Press / Saurabh Das/ File
West Indies Women have been handed two difficult opening fixtures in their ICC T20 World Cup Champion next February.
The Caribbean side, the 2016 champions, face England in their first game at Boland Park, in Parrel, on Feb. 11, before traveling to Newland in Cape Town, South Africa four days later, for a clash with powerhouses India.
Installed in Group B of the Feb. 10 — 26 tournament of the West Indies will round out the group stage with games against minnow Ireland in Cape Town on Feb. 17, and again Pakistan, on Feb. 19 in Paarl.
Hosts South Africa take on Sri Lanka in  the curtain raiser at Newland on Feb. 10, with reigning champion Australia facing New Zealand in the second match.
West Indies are one of 10 teams which will do battle in the competition in South Africa, the second in three years following the Australia showpiece in 2020.
The tournament will see 23 matches being played across Cape Town, the Paarl and Gqeberha over 15 days.