Mahinda Rajapaksa ICS, Hambantota

Capacity: 35,000Ends: Thanamalwila End, Sooriyawewa EndFixtures: First round: Group C

A new ground built for the 2011 World Cup, Hambantota's main problem is less the arena itself, which is state of the art, and more actually getting there.

The stadium is a stunning, modern structure and one that currently appears a little out of place in a port town that is undergoing a facelift of its own.

Two T20Is have been played in Hambantota, in June this year, and both were low-scoring affairs as Sri Lanka and Pakistan each managed to defend seemingly sub-par totals in a 1-1 series draw.

Now the ground has the honour of hosting the World Twenty20's opening game when Sri Lanka meet Zimbabwe in one of the three Group C games staged here.