The much-anticipated ICC World Cup 2023 is reportedly set to begin on October 5 and end on November 19. India are scheduled to host the competition in the latter half of the ongoing year.

This will be the first time the entire World Cup will be held completely in India. So far, India have co-hosted the ODI World Cup thrice – 1987, 1996 and 2011. India are also hosting an ICC event for the first time since hosting the T20 World Cup in 2016.

A total of 10 teams will participate in World Cup 2023. The top seven sides plus the hosts (India) from the thirteen competitors in the Super League will gain an automatic qualification. The remaining five teams, along with five Associate sides, will play in the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The top two teams from the Qualifier event will go through to the World Cup.

ICC World Cup 2023 to begin on October 5:

While the ICC is yet to announce the full schedule for World Cup 2023, ESPNcricinfo has reported that the tournament will begin on October 5 and finish on November 19.

The report further stated that the hosts have shortlisted at least a dozen venues, with the final scheduled to be at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad aside, the shortlist comprises Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot and Mumbai.

Overall, 48 matches including three knockouts will be played in World Cup 2023 across 46 days. The BCCI is yet to finalise the venues due to the complications posed by the monsoon season receding at different points in different parts of India.

In normal circumstances, the ICC announces the World Cup schedule at least a year before the tournament gets underway. However, the apex body has been compelled to wait this time due to a couple of reasons – getting a tax exemption for the tournament, and visa clearance for the Pakistan team.

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