As the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 kicks off amidst various uncertainties and discussions about its format, the cricketing world converges at the colossal Ahmedabad Stadium on Thursday, October 5. In a pre-tournament press conference, captains were asked whether the ODI World Cup still holds its place as the pinnacle of the sport, given the rise of T20 cricket and global leagues. Kane Williamson, the captain of New Zealand, echoed the sentiments of many by affirming the World Cup's enduring significance.
The buzz surrounding this event certainly supports this view. While bilateral series may be losing their charm, the past year has been a build-up to these 46 days of cricketing glory for teams around the world. England's leadership may have changed hands, but their triumph in the T20 World Cup is evidence that Eoin Morgan's white-ball revolution remains firmly entrenched. However, it's not just England; India, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa are also considered strong contenders. Signs suggest that this could be one of the most fiercely contested World Cups ever, with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan demonstrating their ability to upset the established order. And where better to showcase their prowess than on the grand stage of the World Cup?
ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: The Ultimate Guide
Full Tournament Schedule:
Team Lineups:
Let's take a look at the squads for the participating teams:
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq. Reserve: Fareed Malik, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafudin Ashraf
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc. Reserves: Matt Short, Tanveer Sangha
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto (vc), Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
England: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes. Reserve: Jofra Archer
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, R Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
Netherlands: Scott Edwards (c), Max O'Dowd, Bas de Leede, Vikram Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Paul van Meekeren, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Ryan Klein, Wesley Barresi, Saqib Zulfiqar, Shariz Ahmad, Sybrand Engelbrecht.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young. Reserve: Kyle Jamieson
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim. Reserves: Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris, Zaman Khan
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (vc), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka Reserve: Chamika Karunaratne
Match Timings and Live Streaming Details:
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 action begins on October 5 with a day-night match starting at 2 PM IST. All day-night matches throughout the tournament will commence at 2 PM IST, while on double-header days, the morning game gets underway at 10:30 AM IST.
Catch all the thrilling moments of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Star Sports channels, which will provide comprehensive coverage on TV. Moreover, India's matches, along with the semifinals and the final, will also be broadcast on the free-to-air DD Sports channel. For those looking for online streaming options, the tournament will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website. Don't miss out on the excitement!
