Mumbai: The Indian cricket team, led by southpaw Saurav Ganguly, would leave on January 29 for South Africa to participate in the ICC World Cup.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar told on Friday that the players would assemble in the city on January 27 and leave for the mega event, to be held from February 8 to March 23, two days later.

"Indian coach John Wright, who did not come back with the team on Friday after the 43-day tour of New Zealand to be with his family for a few days, will return to India on January 20," Diwadkar said.

The Indians, who are in Group 'A' along with World champion Australia and arch rival Pakistan, would be in South Africa 15 days before its first match against Holland at Paarl on February 12.

India will play the other league matches on February 15 against Australia at Centurion, February 19 against Zimbabwe at Harare, February 23 against Namibia at Piertermaritzburg, February 26 against England at Durban and March 1 against Pakistan at Centurion.

The Super sixes would start from March 7 to March 15 while the semi-finals would be held March 18 and 20 before the final on March 23.

South Africa along with Zimbabwe and Kenya would be hosting the mega event.

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