The full schedule for the 2023 ODI World Cup has been announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC), with England set to face New Zealand in the opening game on 5 October. India, as hosts, will begin their campaign against Australia in Chennai on 8 October, followed by a highly anticipated match against arch-rivals Pakistan in Ahmedabad a week later.
The semi-final matches have been moved from Bengaluru and Chennai to Mumbai and Kolkata due to logistical issues. Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium will host the first semi-final on 15 November, with Kolkata’s Eden Gardens hosting the next one on 16 November.
Should India make it to the semi-finals, they will play at the Wankhede Stadium; however, if they face Pakistan, the match will take place at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The last time these two teams squared off in a World Cup semi-final was in 2011, where India emerged victorious with a 29-run win and went on to win the tournament.
India has a stellar track record against Pakistan in ODI World Cups, having won all seven matches since they first met in Sydney during the 1992 World Cup. Despite their recent loss to Pakistan in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, India will be looking to maintain their unbeaten streak in the ODI format.
Pakistan had previously requested that their group match against India be moved from the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to another venue. However, their request was rejected by both the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The schedule for the 2023 ODI World Cup will see 10 teams competing in a round-robin format, followed by the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals. The final will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium on 26 November.
As cricket fans eagerly await the upcoming tournament, the revised schedule has ignited discussions among supporters and analysts about the potential outcome of the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash.
Overall, the ICC’s announcement provides a clear timeline for the upcoming World Cup and ensures that cricket enthusiasts can follow their favorite teams throughout the tournament.
