New Delhi: The 2023 Men's Cricket ODI World Cup schedule has been declared by the ICC. For the first time in seven years, India will host Pakistan for the 50-over World Cup, and the eagerly awaited match is set for October 15 in Ahmedabad. On November 19, the championship game will also take place in Ahmedabad. On October 5, again at the same location, the defending champions England faced off against New Zealand in the tournament's opening match.

The match between India and Pakistan on October 13 will be their ninth encounter at a men's World Cup.

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At the ODI World Cup, India and Pakistan have previously faced off seven times: in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015, and 2019. In the previous seven matches, India had won every one.

The announcement of locations reflects the shifting balances of power within the Indian cricket board. The final was contested in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium when India previously hosted the 50-over World Cup in 2011, when NCP supremo Sharad Pawar was in charge of Indian cricket.

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But ever since Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, was elected in 2019, Ahmedabad has taken over as the nation's new cricketing hub.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on the India-Pakistan match on October 15. “Everybody is looking forward to the India-Pakistan game. Even I am. I am not sure what will happen that day, but the team that handles pressure well will win,” said Virendra Sehwag who was part of Dhoni’s World Cup-winning team.

A top BCCI official told that if India and Pakistan face each other in the semifinals, the match will be played in Kolkata instead of Mumbai. “There is fear that political parties can disrupt the game, so if the India-Pakistan semifinal happens, it will be played in Kolkata. However, if India is scheduled to play any other team, it will happen in Mumbai,” he said.

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Before the India-Pakistan game in 1991, Shiv Sena volunteers dug up the field at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. The Shiv Sena has opposed Pakistan playing in the city since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The World Cup will include ten teams. Two additional teams will be chosen through the World Cup Qualifiers presently being played in Zimbabwe, in addition to the confirmed entrants India, Afghanistan, Australia, England, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. In addition to Sri Lanka and the West Indies, other nations competing in the qualifiers are Nepal, Ireland, the Netherlands, Oman, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Zimbabwe.

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