The format is the same as the
2010 edition. The format has four groups of three in a preliminary round, groups A-D. In addition to the ten
test cricket playing nations, there are two associate/affiliate teams who qualified from the
2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier staged in the
United Arab Emirates on 13–14 March 2012. The top two teams from each group A-D proceed to the Super Eight stage of the tournament. The Super Eights consist of two groups 1 & 2. The top two teams from the Super Eight groups play the semi-finals, and the semi-final winners contest the final to determine the world champions in
Twenty20 cricket.
England are the defending champions, having won the
2010 edition in the
West Indies. The Super Eight stage consists of the top two teams from each group of the group stage. The teams are split into two groups, Groups 1 and 2. Group 1 will consist of the top seed from Groups A and C, and the second seed of groups B and D. Group 2 will consist of the top seed from Groups B and D, and the second seed of groups A and C. The seedings used are those allocated at the start of the tournament and are not affected by group stage results, with the exception of if a non-seeded team knocks out a seeded team, the non-seeded team inherits the seed of the knocked-out team. During the group stage and Super Eight, points are awarded to the teams as follows: In case of a
tie (i.e. both teams score exactly the same number of runs at the end of their respective innings), a
Super Over decides the winner. This is applicable in all stages of the tournament. Within each group (both group stage & Super Eight stage), teams are ranked against each other based on the following criteria: • Higher number of points • If equal, higher number of wins • If still equal, higher
Net run rate • If still equal, lower
bowling strike rate • If still equal, result of head-to-head meeting. ==Qualification==