The International Cricket Council, on Sunday, announced low-priced tickets for the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup in a bid to host sold out matches in the Caribbean next year.

“Tickets have been priced to ensure the venues are as full as possible for all 42 matches,” said an ICC statement.

In another attraction for fans, the ICC has also decided to provide free entry to Under-16s for all matches in Guyana and all first round matches in St Lucia.

The highest-priced ticket for all men’s first round and Super Eights matches is just $15 while all women’s group games will be free entry.

For either of the two semi-final men’s and women’s double-headers in St Lucia on May 13 and 14, ticket range starts from just $10 for adults and $6 for Under-16s. The top ticket-price for the final day is only $40.

Tickets are set to go on sale in the Caricom market on November 1, 2009, with sales to the rest of the world commencing two weeks later, on November 15.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said the game’s world governing body will make sure that third edition of the tournament was also as successful as the first two.

“We have enjoyed two hugely successful events in this form of the game, first in 2007 in South Africa and last month in England, and I am certain next year’s action in the Caribbean will maintain, if not surpass, the successes of those previous global Twenty20 tournaments,” Lorgat said.

“One measure of success will be to fill the venues and to try to achieve this we have worked hard with the West Indies Cricket Board to ensure the ticket prices are extremely competitive,” he said.

“What I am looking forward to is another short, sharp tournament with 42 men’s and women’s matches over 17 days in true nation-versus-nation action and it should again be an outstanding and exciting showpiece,” he added.

ICC World Twenty20 Tournament Director Dr Ernest Hilaire said: “We have worked diligently to ensure that the ticket prices for the ICC World Twenty20 2010 are as competitive as possible and I think fans will agree that they are.

“I believe we will meet our primary objective of hosting sold-out matches in a truly Caribbean atmosphere.”

West Indies Cricket Board President Dr Julian R Hunte said: “The ICC World Twenty20 has proven a successful and riveting event and the West Indies Cricket Board is pleased to host the third edition of this tournament next year.

“We look forward to it being even more spectacular than the previous ones and invite you to join us in the Caribbean.”

Dethroned Twenty20 World Champions India have been placed alongside South Africa and a qualifier team in Group C for the next year’s third edition of the tournament to be played in the West Indies.

Holders Pakistan are in the Group A where they will have to ward off the challenges from Bangladesh and Australia to advance in the event starting April 30, according to the 2010 World Twenty20 Match schedule announced by the International Cricket Council today.

Runners up Sri Lanka constitute the Group C with New Zealand and Zimbabwe while the hosts West Indies, England and a second qualifying team will comprise the Group D.

The West Indies will play the second qualifying team in the opening match of the biennial event, which is being staged next year immediately after its 2009 England edition to prevent its clash with the 2011 ODI World Cup in the subcontinent.

India, who were knocked out in the Super Eight stage of the second edition, are lined up to play the first qualifiers in their opener, slated on May 1, which will be the second day of the 17-day tournament.

The tournament will feature as many as 27 matches with the semi-finals being played on May 13 and 14 and final slated on May 16.

For the simultaneously played women’s event, teams have been divided into two groups, ‘A’ and ‘B’.

Semi-finallists India are in Group B with New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan while England, Australia, the West Indies and South Africa make the Group A.

All first round matches of the women’s world cup will be played in St Kitts, the ICC statement said.

The women’s tournament, which will feature 15 matches including semi-finals and the final, start on May 5 with the West Indies eves taking on their South African counterparts.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face off on May 8. The women’s semi-finals and final will be played on the same days as that of men’s.