Team India will start their ODI World Cup campaign in 2023 with a match against Australia at Chennai’s M Chidambaram Stadium.
According to Cricbuzz, the event is expected to begin on October 5 with a rematch of the Last edition’s final between England and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, the big match between India and Pakistan has been set for Sunday, October 15.
The final will also be held on Sunday, November 19, at the massive Ahmedabad stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 100,000.
The whole schedule is scheduled to be released soon by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), most likely after the conclusion of the present 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL).
One of the two semi-finals will allegedly be played in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, which hosted the final of the 2011 ODI World Cup. A total of 48 matches will be played over 12 cities, including Kolkata, Delhi, Indore, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Rajkot, and Raipur, in the event, which features 10 nations.
Pakistan has agreed to tour India for the ODI World Cup; PCB chief Najam Sethi expresses concerns over matches in Ahmedabad
The BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are currently at odds over the hosting rights for the 2023 Asia Cup. After the BCCI raised doubts over sending the Indian squad to Pakistan, the PCB threatened to boycott the ODI World Cup in India.
However, according to the report, Pakistan will play in the ODI World Cup despite losing the struggle to keep the Asia Cup in their country.
The PCB has consented to cross the border, but they are concerned about playing their matches in Ahmedabad. As a result, the Men in Green will play their games in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru, as per the preliminary schedule. Pakistan has agreed to play in Ahmedabad if their team reaches the final.
Eight countries have won automatic qualifying for the tournament, with South Africa recently winning the last berth. The Proteas qualified when the first ODI between Ireland and Bangladesh was called off due to rain.
Two additional teams, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Netherlands, Ireland, Nepal, Oman, Scotland, UAE, and host Zimbabwe, will participate in a qualifying event in a few months.