- Friday, February 28, 2025
The first match of the tournament will be played between defending champions England and New Zealand in a repeat of the final of the 2019 edition in Ahmedabad on October 5.
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE much-awaited fixtures for the International Cricket Council (ICC) men’s 50-over cricket World Cup 2023 were released on Tuesday (27) along with the 10 venues for the mega event in India that will span over 46 days in October and November.
The tournament will kick off on October 5 with a game between holders England and New Zealand in a repeat of the final of the 2019 edition. The match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat.
Hosts India to travel at least 8,400 kilometres during World Cup 2023 campaign
Hosts India will kick off their campaign on October 8 against five-time champions Australia in Chennai. The hosts will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in Ahmedabad on October 15. India have never lost to Pakistan in a 50-over cricket world cup.
The format of the 2023 World Cup will be similar to the one played four years ago in England and Wales. A total of 10 teams will be in the fray and each will play the other with the top four point takers qualifying for the semi-finals. While eight teams (India, Pakistan, England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh and Afghanistan) are already confirmed, battle for the last two berths is currently underway in a qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe which will conclude on July 9.
The two semi-finals will be played in Mumbai and Kolkata on November 15 and 16, respectively, and the final will be played in Ahmedabad on November 19.
Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram besides Hyderabad will host the warm-up matches between September 29 and October 3.
This is the fourth time that India is hosting the cricket world cup after 1987, 1996 and 2011 but it is the first time that it is organising the tournament as the sole host.
Against Australia in Chennai: October 8
Against Afghanistan in Delhi: October 11
Against Pakistan in Ahmedabad: October 15
Against Bangladesh in Pune: October 19
Against New Zealand in Dharamsala: October 22
Against England in Lucknow: October 29
Against qualifier in Mumbai: November 2
Against South Africa in Kolkata: November 5
Against qualifier in Bengaluru: November 11
