Dubai, Feb 1 : Cricket has become the first sport to confirm its line-up for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG), the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced in association with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). Sri Lanka, after their victory in the ICC Commonwealth Games Qualifier 2022 in Kuala Lumpur last week, completed the line-up of eight teams that also includes Australia, Barbados, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa. The tournament will be played with two groups in the league stage. Australia, India, Barbados and Pakistan are placed in Group A. England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka will fight for supremacy in Group B. It is set to be a league-cum-knockout affair at the Games, with Australia and India set to clash in the opener on July 29. The medal matches are scheduled to be played on August 7. This will only be the second time that cricket is going to be part of the Commonwealth Games. The last time cricket was a part of CWG was in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, when the men’s teams battled it out with South Africa winning the Gold after defeating Australia by four wickets in the final. “It is good to have finalised the identity of the teams participating in the Commonwealth Games, and congratulations to Sri Lanka for making it after playing so well in the qualifier,” said Geoff Allardice, the ICC Chief Executive. “We will have eight of the best teams competing for the gold and I am sure we will get to watch a highly competitive tournament,” he added. CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “Congratulations to the eight outstanding teams who have qualified for the women’s T20 cricket tournament at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. “I must pay particular tribute to Sri Lanka, who secured the eighth and final spot by winning such an exciting qualifying tournament in Malaysia last week. They will head to Birmingham with an elite lineup featuring England, Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Barbados and New Zealand.” The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be the first major multi-sport event in history to award more medals to women than men. (UNI)