The upcoming Men's ODI World Cup is set to begin with a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final between England and New Zealand on October 5, with India's opening match against five-time champions Australia likely to be held in Chennai, according to a report by Cricbuzz. India's highly-anticipated match against Pakistan will reportedly be held on October 15 in Ahmedabad, while the final is set to take place on November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to release the official schedule soon after obtaining formal approval from all stakeholders, with the tournament set to be played between 10 teams and featuring 48 matches. India, England, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa have already qualified for the tournament.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has agreed to participate in the World Cup despite tensions with India over the Asia Cup. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly has some concerns about playing against India in Ahmedabad and is requesting changes to the match venues, with the PCB chairman having recently visited the ICC office in Dubai to discuss the matter. Nonetheless, Pakistan will play its games in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru, with Kolkata, Delhi, Indore, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Rajkot, Raipur, and Mumbai also hosting matches.
The qualifying tournament for the last two spots in the World Cup will take place from June 18 to July 9 in Zimbabwe, with former World Cup champions West Indies and Sri Lanka competing against the Netherlands, Ireland, Nepal, Oman, Scotland, UAE, and the host country. The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is expected to host one of the semifinals, while each team will play nine league games, with most venues expected to host an India match.