The International Cricket Council on Tuesday (June 27) unveiled the fixtures for the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be played across 46 days in 10 venues later this year in India.
The showpiece tournament will get underway on October 5 with a repeat of the 2019 Final as England take on New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Host India will kick-off their campaign on October 8 against five-time World Cup champions Australia in Chennai.
A total of 10 teams will participate in the 50-over World Cup, with eight already qualified for the quadrennial event – including the host India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The race for the two vacant spots is ongoing in Zimbabwe in ICC Men’s ODI World Cup Qualifier, where the top teams will fill those positions.
The tournament is filled with a number of marquee clashes. Australia will take on South Africa on October 13 in Lucknow while the high-voltage India versus Pakistan encounter is scheduled for October 15 in Ahmedabad.
Pakistan and Australia will square off in Bengaluru on October 20, while England clash against South Africa the next day in Mumbai.
India will lock horns with New Zealand to try and avenge their 2019 semi-final defeat on October 22 at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala and Australia face their arch-rivals England on November 4 in Ahmedabad. India will go up against England on October 29 in Lucknow.
The final group stage match will see England take on Pakistan at the Eden Gardens on November 12.
The first semi-final will be held in Mumbai on November 15 and the second semi-final will take place in Kolkata the following day. Both semi-finals will have a reserve day.
The Final will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19 with November 20 slated as the reserve day.
All three knock-out fixtures will be day-night affairs, with the matches beginning at 14:00 local time.
The World Cup matches will be played in 10 venues – Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Dharamsala, Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram in addition to Hyderabad will host the warm-up matches from September 29 to October 3.
(With ICC Inputs)
