India to select World T20, Asia Cup squads on Friday

The Indian squads for the upcoming Asia Cup T20 tournament in Bangladesh and the subsequent ICC World Twenty20 championship in India are to be chosen on February 5 at Delhi by the national selection panel headed by Sandeep Patil. 

"The meeting has been scheduled on February 5 at Delhi to pick the teams for the Asia Cup and World T20 events," cricket board sources said on Wednesday. India would play a three-game T20 series at home against Sri Lanka from February 9, ahead of the multi-nation T20 events. 

The Asia Cup is slated to be held from February 24 to March 6, after a four-team qualifying event to spot one qualifier for the tournament proper from February 19-22.

India take on hosts Bangladesh in the tournament opener at Mirpur followed by matches against arch-foes Pakistan (Feb 27), Sri Lanka (Mar 1) and qualifiers (Mar 3).

This is the first time the Asia Cup is being played in the T20 format, in a change from the earlier 50-over competitions.

In the World Twenty20 championship, commencing on March 8, India have been seeded in the Super 10 and will play New Zealand in their opening game on March 15 at Nagpur's VCA Stadium in Jamtha.