In the lead-up to the initiation of the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has disclosed the details of the preliminary matches. These pre-tournament games are set to occur prior to the official commencement of the World Cup. The main event is scheduled to commence on October 5th, while the warm-up matches are arranged to unfold from September 29th to October 3rd. This preparatory phase is poised to unravel across three distinct venues, namely Guwahati, Hyderabad, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Significantly, enthusiasts of the sport will have the unique opportunity to witness the warm-up fixtures live from the stadium premises. Those keen on attending these games can secure their tickets starting from August 25th. It is vital to underscore that these particular matches will not bear the formal classification of an official ODI match.
The Indian cricket contingent is geared up to partake in two warm-up encounters preceding their inaugural bout against Australia. Their adversaries for these practice fixtures encompass the cricketing nations of England and the Netherlands. India is scheduled to square off against England on September 30th, followed by a match against the Netherlands on October 3rd. In parallel, the Pakistan cricket unit, led by Babar Azam, will also engage in two warm-up skirmishes against New Zealand and Australia, both slated for the same dates as India’s matches. The stipulated match timings for all these encounters are set at 2 pm IST, and they are slated to be day-night duels.
A comprehensive rundown of the warm-up schedule is provided below, with all matches slated to commence at 14h00 IST:
Friday, September 29:
Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
South Africa vs. Afghanistan, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
New Zealand vs. Pakistan, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Saturday, September 30:
India vs. England, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
Australia vs. Netherlands, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Monday, October 2:
England vs. Bangladesh, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
New Zealand vs. South Africa, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Tuesday, October 3:
Afghanistan vs. Sri Lanka, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
India vs. Netherlands, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Pakistan vs. Australia, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
India is all set to inaugurate their campaign in the World Cup on October 8th at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, where they will clash with the Australian cricket team. Subsequently, a highly anticipated encounter with arch-rivals Pakistan is slated for October 14th at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The build-up to this momentous clash in Ahmedabad is marked by enormous anticipation, as infrequent diplomatic ties have limited the encounters between India and Pakistan on the international cricket stage. While the two teams have crossed paths in the Asia Cup 2023, it is the World Cup platform that truly takes the spotlight, demanding a display of prowess and composure from the players on both sides in their quest to conquer the psychological pressures.
