The groups were revealed on 31 October 2007, based on finishing positions at the 2007 ICC Twenty20 World Cup, though there are two three associate positions which were determined in a tournament to be played in Belfast between 2nd and 4th August 2008 between Kenya, Scotland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Canada and Bermuda. Ireland and the Netherlands, having reached the final of that competition, qualified as of right.
| Group A | | Bangladesh | | India | | Ireland |
| | Group B | | England | | Netherland | | Pakistan |
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| Group C | | Australia | | Sri Lanka | | West Indies |
| | Group D | | New Zealand | | Scotland | | South Africa |
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On 4th July 2008 Zimbabwe, under pressure from South Africa and England over political matters related to Robert Mugabe, pulled out of the tournament of their own volition. The Qualifier was changed to include a third place match and iwill be replaced by the third placed team from the qualifier tournament, Scotland
The initial format with four groups of three is the same as that used at the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup.
