Ahmedabad: Amid the ongoing standoff between BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the Asia Cup 2023, the PCB have reportedly agreed to tour India for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 having earlier threatened to boycott the tournament.
As per Cricbuzz, India will be playing their tournament opener against Australia, and the venue for it is likely to be Chennai. Moreover, the report adds that India and Pakistan will lock horns against each other on October 15.
Meanwhile, the first match of the tournament will not feature India as the opener is set to be played between the 2019 winners England and runners-up New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The two finalists will lock horns in the opener on October 5. Also, the final of the tournament will be played on November 19 at the same venue in Ahmedabad. Notably, BCCI is yet to release the schedule for the same and they are likely to do it after the Indian Premier League.
The World Cup is set to be played across a dozen venues in India. Among the tentative venues which shall hold a World Cup game are – Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Delhi, Indore, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Rajkot, Raipur, and Mumbai. Meanwhile, Mohali and Nagpur are missing from the list. Mumbai’s Wankhede can get to host the semifinal of the tournament. Pakistan will tentatively play in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
There will be 10 teams having a go at each other in the quadrennial event in India. A total of 48 games will be played. Out of 10 participating teams, 8 have been confirmed after Ireland vs Bangladesh 1st ODI got washed out on Tuesday. The 8 automatic qualifiers are – India (host), England, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South Africa. Two spots are remaining and they will be filled through a qualifying event in Zimbabwe.
