DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC) — West Indies Women have avoided the “group of death” for next year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in England.

The 2016 champions will compete in Group 2 alongside defending champions New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, and two other teams that will be determined from the Global Qualifier, in the tournament which will run from June 12 to July 5.

Group 1 comprises heavyweights Australia, last year’s losing finalists South Africa, India, Pakistan, and two other teams from the Global Qualifier.

The ICC released the groups and the fixtures for next year’s tournament on Wednesday, with hosts England featuring in the opening clash against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12.

West Indies Women will play their first match one day later when they take on New Zealand at Hampshire Bowl.

Their next match will be against one of the qualifiers on June 18 before taking on Sri Lanka on June 21. They will then play their final two matches against England and the other qualifier on June 24 and June 27, respectively.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, set for June 30 and July 2 at The Oval, with the grand finale taking place at Lord’s on July 5.

The tournament spans 24 days, featuring 33 matches across seven iconic venues — Edgbaston, Hampshire Bowl, Headingley, Old Trafford, The Oval, Bristol County Ground and Lord’s.

Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild said the tournament would contribute to lasting change.

“The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to transform a month of sporting excellence into a movement that will rewrite the narrative about women’s cricket.

“At iconic venues across the country we’ll see incredible, world-class athletes battling it out in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, who, with every ball bowled and run scored, will be contributing to lasting change,” Barrett-Wild said.

“It’s our opportunity to give women’s cricket and women’s sport the stage it deserves.”