The eagerly awaited fixtures for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, set to take place in India, have been unveiled along with the ten designated venues for the prestigious tournament, which will span 46 days later this year.
The World Cup will kick off on October 5 with a thrilling rematch of the 2019 Final as England square off against New Zealand at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Hosts India will commence their campaign on October 8 in Chennai, where they will face off against the formidable five-time World Cup champions Australia.
A total of 10 teams will participate in this showcase event, with the first eight already securing their spots through the Cricket World Cup Super League. The final two positions will be determined at the conclusion of the Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe, scheduled to end on July 9.
In the round-robin stage, each team will play nine matches, with the top four advancing to the knockout stage and semifinals.
Apart from the thrilling opening match and India's highly anticipated clash with 2019 semi-finalists Australia, the tournament promises a plethora of captivating encounters.
On October 13, Australia will take on South Africa in Lucknow, hoping for redemption after a dramatic encounter in the previous edition ended in the Proteas' favor.
The much-awaited clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is scheduled for Sunday, October 15 in Ahmedabad. Their last World Cup encounter in 2019 witnessed a high-scoring affair, with India emerging victorious in Manchester.
Pakistan will face Australia in Bengaluru on October 20, while England will lock horns with South Africa the following day in Mumbai.
India will seek redemption against New Zealand on October 22 in Dharamsala, the picturesque venue where they suffered a heartbreaking semi-final defeat in 2019. On November 4, Australia will face their arch-rivals England in Ahmedabad, recalling their dominant victory over the Aussies that propelled them into the final four years ago.
Lucknow will witness a thrilling clash between India and England on October 29, with the English side having triumphed over India in the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup just last year.
The final group stage match will be held on November 12, featuring England against Pakistan in Kolkata.
The first semi-final is scheduled for Wednesday, November 15 in Mumbai, followed by the second semi-final on the subsequent day in Kolkata. Both semi-finals will have a reserve day.
The pinnacle of the tournament, the Final, will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19, with November 20 assigned as the reserve day.
All three knockout fixtures will be day-night matches, commencing at 14:00 local time, adding to the excitement of this highly anticipated cricketing spectacle.