ICC World Cup 2023: Ahmedabad To Host Indo-Pak Clash, Here's Team India's Full Schedule
ICC World Cup Trophy [Source: Twitter]
In a significant development, the draft schedule for the much-awaited ICC World Cup is out, with England and New Zealand set to cross swords against each other in the tournament opener on October 5. Furthermore, the high-voltage face-off between India and Pakistan will be hosted by the iconic Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad.
As reported by ESPN Cricinfo, India will kickstart their World Cup campaign against Australia in Chennai on October 8. Following their clash against the five-time champions, the Men in Blue will cross swords against Afghanistan in Delhi before taking on Pakistan and Bangladesh in Ahmedabad and Pune, respectively.
After that, Rohit Sharma and co. will face two strong outfits, New Zealand and England, in Dharamsala and Lucknow, respectively. While they will likely play their seventh group-stage fixture against a qualifying team in Mumbai, the rest two games will involve their face-offs against South Africa and another qualifying team in Kolkata and Bengaluru, respectively.
Team India's World Cup Fixtures
India vs Australia - October 8, Chennai
India vs Afghanistan - October 11, Delhi
India vs Pakistan - October 15, Ahmedabad
India vs Bangladesh - October 19, Pune
India vs New Zealand - October 22, Dharamsala
India vs England - October 29, Lucknow
India vs TBD - November 2, Mumbai
India vs South Africa - November 5, Kolkata
India vs TBD - November 11, Bengaluru
P.S: TBD refers to the top two teams in the World Cup qualifiers
Meanwhile, talking about Pakistan, the Babar Azam-led side will take on the two qualifying teams up front before playing against India, Australia (October 20) and Afghanistan (October 23) in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Chennai, respectively.
After that, they will cross swords against South Africa (October 27, Chennai) before locking horns with Bangladesh (October 31, Kolkata), New Zealand (November 5, Bengaluru) and England (November 12, Kolkata).
There will be ten teams participating in the World Cup comprising 48 matches to be played between October 5 and November 19. While eight teams- India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Bangladesh and Afghanistan- have made a direct entry to the mega event, the rest two spots will be occupied by the top two teams in the World Cup qualifiers beginning on the 18th of this month.
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