World Cup cricket format and playing conditions
Following are format, rules and playing conditions for cricket's World Cup starting on Friday. FORMAT: 12 teams have been divided in two groups. Group A contains Sri Lanka, India, South Africa, England, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Group B contains Australia, West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Scotland. Top three teams in each group will progress to the Super Six second phase. Teams will take forward points scored against other qualifying teams from their group. Each qualifying team from group A will now play three qualifiers from group B. Top four teams at end of Super Six will play in knockout semifinals where team ranked first will play team ranked fourth. Winners of semifinals will play in final. PLAYING CONDITIONS: Innings are 50 overs. Minimum of 25 overs a team will constitute a match. In case of bad weather, matches can continue until 2000 local (1900 GMT). Each match will have one reserve day in case of bad weather. Final will have two reserve days. For the first 15 overs of each innings only two fielders are allowed outside semi-circles drawn 30 yards (metres) from each set of stumps. For the remaining overs, only five fielders are allowed outside the semicircles. Also in the first 15 overs of each innings, there must be at least two fielders within a 15-yard inner circle centred on the batsman on strike. The two fielders may only stand deeper than 15 yards if they are at slip, leg slip and gully. At no time must there be more than five fielders on the leg side. No bowler may bowl more than 10 overs per innings. A bowler will be no-balled if ball passes or would have passed above the shoulder height of the batsman on strike. Umpires have been instructed "to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation" of the laws governing negative bowling. White balls and black sightscreens will be used. POINTS - Two for a win, one for tie or no result. If teams finish on equal points in group matches, entry into the Super Six phase will be decided on the following criteria (in order of priority) - most wins in the group matches. - winner of head-to-head match where only two teams finish on equal points. - if more than two teams finish on same points, winner of most matches involving these teams will proceed. - if still equal, run rates will decide order of teams. - if still equal, wicket rate per balls bowled in matches where results were achieved will decide order. - after that, lots will be drawn. In Super Six phase, if teams finish equal, entry into the semifinals will be decided on the following criteria (in order of priority). - most wins in matches against other Super Six qualifiers. - winner of head-to-head match where only two finish on equal points. - if more than two teams finish on same points, winner of most matches involving these teams will proceed. - if still equal, run rate in matches played against other Super Six qualifiers will decide order of teams. - if still equal, wicket rate per balls bowled in matches against Super Six qualifiers in which results were achieved will decide order. - after that, lots will be drawn. If semifinal is tied or there is no result, the team that finished higher in Super Six phase will proceed to final. If final is tied or there is no result over three days, the World Cup will be shared. PRIZE MONEY - Totals $1 million. Winner - $300 000, runner-up $150 000, losing semifinalists $100 000. Group match winners $6 000 each, losers $3 000 each. 
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