Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced the groups for the 2011 World Cup to be held in the sub-continent. Buzz up! India is placed in Group B along with South Africa, England and the West Indies. Netherlands, Ireland and Bangladesh were the other three teams in India''s group.

Kyle McCallan will captain Ireland when they take on Kenya to begin their defence of the ICC Intercontinental Cup at Eglinton on 3rd July.

Canada, Kenya and the Netherlands have joined Ireland in qualifying for the 2011 World Cup after the final round of Super Eight matches were concluded in . Scotland and Afghanistan earned themselves ODI status for the next four years.

Ireland, Kenya and Uganda prepared for the ICC World Cup Qualifier in South Africa by beating the United Arab Emirates, Scotland and Denmark respectively in warm-up matches ahead of the tournament beginning on 1st April.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the 12-team qualifying event for the 2011 World Cup will be held from April 1st to 19th at nine venues in South Africa. The ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier will be played out over 54 matches with the final taking place at Centurion Park.

Zimbabwe sealed the five-match series, a lopsided battle of the minnows, with a seven-wicket win in Nairobi to record a clean sweep. They were barely challenged, save for two early wickets, in their chase of a modest 200 as Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri and Sean Williams compiled attacking half-centuries to steer them home with 15 overs to spare.

Kenya were bowled out for 199 in the fifth and final One Day International against Zimbabwe, leaving the prospect of a 5-0 series defeat a distinct possibility in Nairobi. Collins Obuya kept the innings respectable with 75 in 108 balls with four fours and four sixes as Graeme Cremer's dream start to his ODI career continued as he picked up four for 31.

The series had already been won but Zimbabwe did not take it easy in the fourth ODI against Kenya in Nairobi, beating the hosts by 66 runs to secure their fourth straight win. Their batsmen showed resilience, recovering from a top-order wobble, and aggression to accelerate towards 285 for 8. Defending a sizeable total, Zimbabwe's bowlers tied Kenya down at the start of the chase and struck regularly to ensure victory despite Alex Obanda's unbeaten 96.

Three men passed fifty as Zimbabwe made 285 for eight in the fourth One Day International against Kenya in Nairobi. Opener Hamilton Masakadza made 58 in 56 balls and after a mid-innings wobble, Prosper Utseya hit 51 and Forster Mutizwa hammered 61 to help their side reach a competitive score.

Prosper Utseya played an outstanding captain's innings to lead Zimbabwe to a series-clinching four-wicket win in the third ODI in Nairobi when the home side had looked on course to keep the contest alive. After battling hard to reach 234, Kenya took wickets at regular intervals but were thrown off course by Utseya, who made a career-best unbeaten 68, and a superbly-timed assault from wicketkeeper Forster Mutizwa as the victory came with 10 balls to spare.