According to the BCCI’s draught schedule for the event, India will begin their ODI World Cup campaign against Australia in Chennai on October 8 and host their much awaited encounter against archrivals Pakistan a week later in Ahmedabad.
“The BCCI shared the draught schedule with the ICC, which then sent it to the participating countries for feedback before a final schedule is put out early next week,” according to a Monday ESPNCricinfo article.
The tournament will kick off on October 5 in Ahmedabad, which will also host the championship game on November 19, with defending champions England taking on runner-up New Zealand.
The semifinal locations have not yet been chosen; they will likely take place on November 15 and 16.
The league phase matches for the hosts India, who previously won the ODI World Cup at home in 2011, would be spread among nine cities, including Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bengaluru. Pakistan will be their opponent on October 15.
Pakistan will play their league games in five different cities.
Pakistan is scheduled to play the two teams moving on from the Qualifier on October 6 and October 12 in Hyderabad, as well as Australia on October 20 in Bengaluru, Afghanistan on October 23 and South Africa on October 27 in Chennai, Bangladesh on October 31 in Kolkata, New Zealand on November 5 in Bengaluru for a day match, and England on November 12 in Kolkata.
Among the other important games are Australia’s contests against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in Dharamsala on October 29 and against England in Ahmedabad on November 4.
The event will include a total of 10 teams. Eight of these teams have already been chosen, and two more will advance via the qualifications to the main competition.
The programme has been uncharacteristically delayed, with little over four months before the main event starts.
The tournament’s past two schedules, in 2015 and 2019, were decided upon more than a year in advance.
India’s prospective timetable:
India plays Australia on October 8, Chennai plays Afghanistan on October 11, Delhi plays Pakistan on October 15, Ahmedabad plays Bangladesh on October 19, Pune plays England on October 29, Lucknow plays South Africa on November 2, Mumbai plays Bengaluru plays Qualifier on November 11, Bengaluru.
