Toby Marshall
On June 27, the BCCI and ICC made a joint announcement regarding the schedule for the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 in Mumbai. This highly anticipated event is set to commence on October 5 and culminate with the final match on November 19.
The tournament will kick off with an exciting clash between defending champions England and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which will also serve as the venue for the final. This will be India’s first time hosting a standalone 50-over World Cup, although the country has previously hosted matches in the tournament.
While eight teams have already secured their spots in the World Cup, two additional teams will qualify from the ongoing Qualifiers taking place in Zimbabwe, with the final matches concluding on July 9. All ten teams will compete against each other in a round-robin format, and the top four teams will advance to the semifinals.
In addition to the thrilling opening match and India’s highly anticipated showdown with 2019 semi-finalists Australia, the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 is packed with several pivotal encounters. On October 13 in Lucknow, Australia will take on South Africa, aiming to reverse their fortunes after a dramatic defeat to the Proteas in the previous edition.
The most awaited game of the tournament between India and Pakistan will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium on October 15. Their previous encounter in the 2019 World Cup was a high-scoring spectacle, with India securing a resounding victory in Manchester.
On October 20, Pakistan will face Australia in Bengaluru, while England and South Africa will collide in Mumbai the following day, October 21. These matches promise to be intense and captivating as teams vie for crucial wins in the tournament.
On October 22, India will face New Zealand at the scenic Dharamsala venue, seeking to avenge their defeat in the 2019 semi-final. The clash holds special significance for India as they aim to make amends for the past disappointment. Another thrilling encounter awaits on November 4 in Ahmedabad, where Australia will square off against their arch-rivals England. The defending champions have fond memories of their dominant victory over the Australians that propelled them into the final four years ago.
A highly anticipated match between India and England is scheduled for October 29 in Lucknow. This encounter carries added weight as England emerged victorious in the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup just last year, leaving India eager to turn the tables. The tournament will span 46 days and feature ten teams competing across ten cities.
While each venue will host five matches, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad will only host three league games, with Pakistan scheduled to play two matches and New Zealand one. The distribution of matches ensures a diverse and widespread coverage of the tournament across different parts of the country.
Leg-spinner Hasaranga put on a remarkable display, achieving a career-best figures of 6 for 24, as Sri Lanka kicked off their Qualifier league campaign with a commanding 175-run win against the underdog United Arab Emirates on Monday.
In the 31st league match of the 2023 edition of the ICC ODI World Cup, the Pakistan cricket team will go one-on-one against the Bangladesh team. The two teams are all set to battle against each other at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday, October 31.
