T20 World Cup 2016: Top five unmissable Super 10 stage clashes, where to watch live and dates

The ICC World T20 begins in earnest on 15 March with India taking on New Zealand in the opening Super 10 fixture. The qualifiers are out of the way with Bangladesh and Afghanistan entering the group stage.

There are five teams each in two groups, who will play each other and the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. All the clashes will be crucial and highly anticipated, but there are few between long-standing rivals that standout in each group. IBTimes UK has compiled a list of five matches that cannot be missed during the Super 10 stage of the competition.

Super 10 (Group 1): England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Afghanistan

Super 10 (Group 2): India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh

Australia vs New Zealand – 18 March – 9.30am GMT / 3pm IST at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala. Live TV coverage: UK - Sky Sports 2 & HD 2; India - Star Sports 1 & 3

The Trans-Tasman rivalry is a long standing one dating back decades between the two nations. Australia have been dominant over their neighbours in all formats of the game. The biggest encounter between the two rivals came at the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia, when they locked horns in the finals. The host nation triumphed with aplomb, despite the Kiwis being the team in form throughout the tournament. While they have played T20 encounters in the past with Australia leading 4-1 in head-to-head matches. This, however will be their first ever encounter in a T20 World Cup.

England vs South Africa – 18March – 2pm GMT / 7.30pm IST at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Live TV coverage: UK - Sky Sports 2 & HD 2; India - Star Sports 1 & 3

England and South Africa have a long-standing rivalry when it comes to the ICC T20 World Cup. They have met each on four occasions thus far, with the latter winning on three occasions. The AB de Villiers-led team also have a better head-to-head record over the Englishmen, leading 7-3, with their most recent wins coming during England's 2015/16 tour of South Africa, when the hosts won the two-match tournament 2-0.

India vs Pakistan – 19March – 2pm GMT / 7.30pm IST at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Live TV coverage: UK - Sky Sports 2 & HD 2; India - Star Sports 1 & 3

In cricket there is no bigger rivalry than the one between India and Pakistan. It is the most anticipated clash in every tournament the two teams are involved. It is a matter of pride for the two nations; it is more than just a match. India are the more dominant side in this format of the game, leading the head-to-head count 5-1, with their biggest victory coming in the final of the inaugural edition of the ICC World T20 in 2007. The clash at the Eden Gardens, however, will be even more enthralling for two more reasons; India has never lost to Pakistan in an ICC World Cup event, be it the 50-over or 20-over format, while Pakistan has never lost to India at the famous stadium in Kolkata. One is likely to change on 19 March.

Sri Lanka vs West Indies – 20 March – 2pm GMT / 19.30 IST at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. Live TV coverage: UK - Sky Sports 2 & HD 2; India - Star Sports 1 & 3

It is unlikely any other teams have met as many times as Sri Lanka and West Indies have in the ICC World T20 tournament. The duo have faced each other on six occasions with the Asian side coming out on top, five times. The two island nations are among the most consistent sides in ICC World T20 events. Sri Lanka can be considered the most consistent as they have qualified for the knockout stages on four out of the five occasions.

Sri Lanka maybe dominant head-to-head in the ICC event, but the only win West Indies had over them was in the final of the 2012 edition denying the hosts a chance to lift the cup at home. The Asian side, however, did not let the loss hold them down, as they won the 2014 edition in Bangladesh.

India vs Australia – 27March – 2pm GMT / 7.30pm IST – IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh. Live TV coverage: UK - Sky Sports 2 & HD 2; India - Star Sports 1 & 3

The rivalry between the two great cricketing nations is mostly borne out of the success they have tasted in all formats of the game. Australia may hold the advantage over India in ODI's, but in the shortest format of the game, the Asian cricketing giants have the advantage. They lead 8-4 in overall T20 meetings between the two countries. In ICC World T20 events, however, they are level after two wins apiece to both countries. Australia, though are yet to win a T20 World Cup, while India won the inaugural event in 2007 and finished runners-up to Sri Lanka in the 2014 edition in Bangladesh.