Ahmedabad, a city renowned for its massive stadium with a seating capacity of over 100,000, is gearing up to host one of the most highly anticipated matches of the ODI World Cup later this year. The blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place on October 15.
In a draft schedule prepared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it has been revealed that the tournament will kick off with a thrilling encounter between England and New Zealand on October 5. The hosts, India, will begin their campaign against Australia in Chennai on October 8.
The BCCI has shared the draft schedule with the International Cricket Council (ICC), who in turn distributed it among the participating nations for their feedback. The final schedule is expected to be released early next week, once all the necessary revisions and suggestions have been taken into account.
While the draft schedule does not disclose the venues for the semi-finals, it has been rumored that they will be held on November 15 and 16. The grand finale is set to take place in Ahmedabad on November 19, the same venue as the opening game.
According to information obtained by ESPNcricinfo, the draft schedule reveals that India will play their league matches across nine different venues. Their itinerary includes matches against Australia in Chennai on October 8, Afghanistan in Delhi on October 11, Pakistan in Ahmedabad on October 15, Bangladesh in Pune on October 19, New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 22, England in Lucknow on October 29, a qualifier in Mumbai on November 2, South Africa in Kolkata on November 5, and another qualifier in Bengaluru on November 11.
Pakistan, on the other hand, is slated to compete in five venues during the league phase. Alongside their high-stakes match against India in Ahmedabad, Pakistan will face the two teams progressing from the Qualifier on October 6 and 12 in Hyderabad.
Following that, they will encounter Australia in Bengaluru on October 20, Afghanistan in Chennai on October 23, South Africa in Chennai on October 27, Bangladesh in Kolkata on October 31, New Zealand in Bengaluru on November 5 (day match), and England in Kolkata on November 12, which is expected to be the final league match.
Apart from the marquee clashes, several other enticing matches are scheduled throughout the tournament. Notably, Australia will face New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 29, Australia will clash with England in Ahmedabad on November 4, and New Zealand will take on South Africa in Pune on November 1.
The announcement of the fixture list for the upcoming World Cup has faced an unprecedented delay, considering the tournament is set to commence in just four months’ time. In contrast, the schedules for the 2015 and 2019 editions were finalized more than a year in advance.
While Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, had previously stated that the schedule would be revealed during the World Test Championship final on May 27, the exact reason behind the delay remains unknown. During an interview on BBC’s Test Match Special, ICC CEO Geoff Allardice assured fans that the schedule would be released “anytime soon,” but refrained from providing an exact date.
The delay in finalizing the schedule has inadvertently caused a setback in the release of ticketing details. This delay has left fans from overseas in a state of desperation, as they are eager to make travel arrangements well in advance.
With the release of the draft schedule, cricket enthusiasts worldwide have started eagerly marking their calendars for the much-anticipated clashes between the cricketing giants. The 2023 ODI World Cup promises to be a spectacle filled with high-intensity encounters, fierce rivalries, and unforgettable moments.
As the final schedule approaches its release, fans and players alike eagerly await the start of this grand tournament that will determine the new world champions of one-day international cricket.
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