The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced the schedule for the warm-up matches of the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which is set to be hosted by India. The warm-up games will provide an opportunity for the ten participating countries to acclimate to the conditions they are likely to face during the main event.
The warm-up matches, which are essentially 50-over games, will take place in the week leading up to the World Cup, which kicks off on October 5. These preparatory games will be held from Friday, September 29 to Tuesday, October 3 in three different Indian cities: Guwahati, Hyderabad, and Thiruvananthapuram.
The schedule for the warm-up matches is as follows:
On September 29, Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, South Africa will play against Afghanistan at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, and New Zealand will compete against Pakistan at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
The following day, September 30, will see India playing against England at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, while Australia will take on the Netherlands at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
After a day’s break, the warm-up matches will resume on October 2 with England facing Bangladesh at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. On the final day of the warm-up matches, October 3, Afghanistan will play against Sri Lanka at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, India will face the Netherlands at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, and Pakistan will compete against Australia at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
All matches are scheduled to start at 1400 local time. This series of warm-up matches will not only allow teams to get a feel for the playing conditions but also help them fine-tune their strategies and line-ups ahead of the World Cup.
