Dubai, Mar 22 India will open their Champions Trophy campaign against world champions Australia when the bitter rivals face off at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on September 13.

It will be the first clash between the two sides after the acrimonious tri-series Down Under which Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team won by beating the hosts 2-0 in the best-of-three finals.

Hosts Pakistan will face 2004 winners and 2006 runners-up West Indies in the opening match of the tournament on September 11 in Lahore.

Karachi and Rawalpindi are the other venues to be used in this year's event, which has the top eight sides in the world competing.

India take on West Indies in their second league encounter in Karachi on September 16 before facing arch rivals Pakistan in Lahore on 20.

The eight teams have been divided into two groups on the basis of seedings.

The first semi-final will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi on September 24 while Rawalpindi will host the second semi-final the next day.

Gaddafi Stadium, which hosted the final of the 1996 World Cup, will stage the final of September 28.

However, in light of the security scenario in Pakistan, a full independent assessment of the situation will be conducted in June, the ICC said in a release.

As compared to the 2006 tournament when 21 matches were played over 29 days, 15 matches will be played in 17 days this year in a much shorter format. (Agencies)