Wales To Host Int'l Cricket Council Champions Trophy Matches Next Year

England will take on New Zealand in the first of four fixtures "to be played in Cardiff" in next year’s Int'l Cricket Council Champions Trophy with the fixture schedule and dates confirmed on Wednesday, exactly "one year to the day when the tournament begins," according to Gareth Griffiths of WALES ONLINE. The world’s top eight teams go head-to-head in the 18-day, 15 match-tournament with games played in Cardiff, Edgbaston and at the Oval. The Welsh capital "will stage the first semi-final with the winner of Pool A facing Pool B runner-up" on June 14, 2017, as the top two sides from each group progress to the knockout stage. Edgbaston will also host a semifinal, with The Oval hosting the final on June 18, 2017. The ticketing window will open on Sept. 1 and close on Sept. 30 and the oversubscribed matches "will go to a ballot." Members of Glamorgan "will have an advanced opportunity to access tickets" (WALES ONLINE, 6/1).