ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule, Venue, and Matches: India to face Pakistan on October 15 at Ahmedabad

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule for the 13th edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held in India from October 5 to November 19. The tournament will feature 10 teams, eight of which have already qualified through the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, and two of which will emerge from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe next year.

The World Cup 2023 will kick off with a blockbuster clash between the defending champions England and the runners-up New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5. The same venue will also host the final on November 19. The other nine venues for the tournament are Hyderabad, Dharamsala, Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata.

ICC World Cup 2023 format and the teams

The format of the World Cup 2023 will be similar to the previous edition in 2019, where each team will play nine matches in a round-robin stage, and the top four teams will advance to the semifinals. The semifinals will be played on November 15 and 16 at Mumbai and Kolkata respectively.

The eight teams that have already secured their spots in the World Cup 2023 are India (hosts), Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa. The remaining two teams will be decided by the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, which will feature 10 teams – five from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League (Ireland, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe) and five from the lower tiers of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup pathway (Namibia, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland and United Arab Emirates).

The key matches and the rivalries

The World Cup 2023 promises to be a thrilling spectacle for cricket fans across the globe, as some of the most exciting matches and rivalries will be on display. Here are some of the key matches to look forward to:

• England vs New Zealand – The opening match of the tournament will be a rematch of the epic final of the 2019 World Cup, where England won by virtue of scoring more boundaries after both teams tied on runs in the regulation overs and the super over. New Zealand will be eager to avenge their heartbreak and start their campaign on a high note.
• India vs Pakistan – The most anticipated match of any World Cup will take place on October 15 at Ahmedabad. The arch-rivals have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13 due to political tensions, but have faced each other in every ICC event since then. India have an unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cups, winning all seven matches so far. Pakistan will hope to break their jinx and upset the hosts in front of a packed crowd.
• Australia vs South Africa – The two southern hemisphere giants will renew their rivalry on October 29 at Lucknow. Australia and South Africa have played some of the most memorable matches in World Cup history, including the famous tied semifinal in 1999 and the record-breaking chase by South Africa in 2006. Both teams will be keen to assert their dominance and stake their claim for a semifinal spot.
• India vs Australia – The two most successful teams in World Cup history will clash on October 8 at Chennai. India and Australia have won seven titles between them, and have also played some of the most intense matches in recent times. India defeated Australia in the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup and the semifinals of the 2016 T20 World Cup at home, while Australia knocked out India in the semifinals of the 2015 World Cup Down Under. Both teams will look to gain an early advantage in their group stage encounter.

ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule, Matches, and Venue

Here are some of the data and tables that provide more information about the World Cup 2023 schedule, venue and matches: