NEW DELHI: In what promises to be a rollicking start to next year’s Hero Honda FIH Hockey World Cup , hosts India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan on the opening day of the mega-event to be held from February 28 to March 13.

According to event itinerary released by the International Hockey Federation on Tuesday, India will play Pakistan in the third Pool B match of the opening day, while Spain will take on South Africa in the tournament opener followed by the encounter between England and Australia.

India will next play Australia on March 2, and then take on Spain on March 4, followed by encounter against England on March 6 and finally round off their Pool stage with the game against South Africa on March 8.

Meanwhile, Olympic and World champion Germany will commence their defence on the second day on March 1 against Korea in Pool A. The day will also see New Zealand taking on Canada and the Netherlands facing Argentina.

The semi-finals of the tournament are scheduled for March 11, while the final will be played on March 13.

2010 FIH World Cup schedule:

Pool A: Argentina, Canada, Germany, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand.

Pool B: Australia, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain.

Sunday February 28, 2010: 16:35 B South Africa vs Spain, 18:35 B Australia vs England, 20:35 B India vs Pakistan.

Monday March 1, 2010: 16:35 A New Zealand vs Canada, 18:35 A Germany vs Korea, 20:35 A Netherlands vs Argentina.

Tuesday March 2, 2010: 16:35 B South Africa vs England, 18:35 B Pakistan vs Spain, 20:35 B India vs Australia.

Wednesday March 3, 2010: 16:35 A Canada vs Germany, 18:35 A Argentina vs Korea, 20:35 A New Zealand vs Netherlands.

Thursday March 4, 2010: 16:35 B South Africa vs Australia, 18:35 B England vs Pakistan, 20:35 B India vs Spain.

Friday March 5, 2010: 16:35 A Korea vs New Zealand, 18:35 A Netherlands vs Canada, 20:35 A Germany vs Argentina.

Saturday March 6, 2010: 16:35 B Australia vs Spain, 18:35 B South Africa vs Pakistan, 20:35 B India vs England.

Sunday March 7, 2010: 16:35 A Korea vs Canada, 18:35 A New Zealand vs Argentina, 20:35 A Germany vs Netherlands.

Monday March 8, 2010: 16:35 B Spain vs England, 18:35 B Australia vs Pakistan, 20:35 B India vs South Africa.

Tuesday March 9, 2010: 16:35 A Germany vs New Zealand, 18:35 A Netherlands vs Korea, 20:35 A Canada vs Argentina.

Wednesday March 10, 2010: Rest Day. Thursday March 11, 2010: 15:35 Clas.11-12 6th Pool A vs 6th Pool B, 18:05 Semi-final 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B, 20:35 Semi-final 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A.

Friday March 12, 2010: 15:35 Clas. 9-10 5th Pool A vs 5th Pool B, 18:05 Clas. 7-8 4th Pool A vs 4th Pool B, 20:35 Clas. 5-6 3rd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B.

Saturday March 13, 2010: 15:35 Bronze medal match, 18:05 Final.