The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is slated to be held in India from October 5 to November 19.
With exactly two months remaining for the World Cup, the fans and experts have started picking their favourites for the showpiece tournament.
Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath has also joined the bandwagon, opining that hosts India are strong contenders to win the 50-over World Cup alongside Australia, England and Pakistan.
“You wouldn’t be surprised that I’m putting Australia in that four. Obviously, India are playing in their own conditions. England is playing some great cricket and Pakistan is also playing fine. So, they are the best four,” McGrath told the Times of India.
McGrath's prediction is almost exactly the same as that of former England skipper Eoin Morgan, who led the Three Lions to their first-ever ODI World Cup title in 2019.
Speaking to WION, Morgan recently said that England and India are strong favourites for him followed by Australia and Pakistan.
“When it comes to the business end of the tournament, I have no doubt England will be there, I have no doubt India will be there. And the other teams I would probably see potentially lifting the trophy are Australia and Pakistan, two very very strong teams, and two contenders when it comes to big competitions,” Morgan stated.
Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Jay Shah has said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) could be revising the World Cup schedule after a few Full Member nations requested the apex body for the same.
Shah clarified that the venues would remain the same in the modified schedule, but the gaps between games would be adjusted.
“As far as possible, we are looking at not changing the venue as well as the matches. Not changing the venue is very important. Teams which have six-day gaps between matches, we are trying to reduce it to four-five days; and those that have just two-day gaps, we are trying to increase to three days,” Shah stated.