England to open ODI World Cup in India against New Zealand in rematch of 2019 final as schedule is confirmed

Defending champions England will open the 2023 men’s ODI World Cup when they face New Zealand in Ahmedabad, India on October 5.

The two sides contested the dramatic 2019 final at Lord’s which England won on boundary count after a tied finish.

England will also close out the 2023 group stage against Pakistan on November 12.

There will be 10 teams featuring at the tournament, which will be played across 10 venues in India.

The format sees all 10 teams play each other in the group stage and the top four qualify for the semi-finals, which will be played on November 15 and 16.

The final is on November 19 in Ahmedabad.

After opening against New Zealand, England then face Bangladesh, Afghanistan, South Africa, a qualifier, India, Australia, another qualifier, and Pakistan.

The eight teams currently assured of places at the tournament are England, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa.

Two more from Sri Lanka, West Indies, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands, Oman, Scotland, UAE, USA and Zimbabwe are currently looking to secure their spots at the World Cup qualifiers.

ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice said: “Hundreds of millions of fans around the world will be part of what we hope will be the greatest ever men’s Cricket World Cup and we know in India the teams will enjoy a unique electric atmosphere concluding with the winners lifting the trophy in the biggest cricket stadium in the world in Ahmedabad.”

2023 men’s World Cup schedule

Group stage

• Thursday, October 5: England v New Zealand (Ahmedabad)
• Friday, October 6: Pakistan v Qualifier 1 (Hyderabad)
• Saturday, October 7: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Dharamsala)
• Saturday, October 7: South Africa v Qualifier 2 (Delhi)
• Sunday, October 8: India v Australia (Chennai)
• Monday, October 9: New Zealand v Qualifier 1 (Hyderabad)
• Tuesday, October 10: England v Bangladesh (Dharamsala)
• Wednesday, October 1: India v Afghanistan (Delhi)
• Thursday, October 12: Pakistan v Qualifier 2 (Hyderabad)
• Friday, October 13: Australia v South Africa (Lucknow)
• Saturday, October 14: England v Afghanistan (Delhi)
• Saturday, October 14: New Zealand v Bangladesh (Chennai)
• ‘Sunday, October 15: India v Pakistan (Ahmedabad)
• Monday, October 16: Australia v Qualifier 2 (Lucknow)
• Tuesday, October 17: South Africa v Qualifier 1 (Dharamsala)
• Wednesday, October 18: New Zealand v Afghanistan (Chennai)
• Thursday, October 19: India v Bangladesh (Pune)
• Friday, October 20: Australia v Pakistan (Bengaluru)
• Saturday, October 21: England v South Africa (Mumbai)
• Saturday, October 21: Qualifier 1 v Qualifier 2 (Lucknow)
• Sunday, October 22: India v New Zealand (Dharamsala)
• Monday, October 23: Pakistan v Afghanistan (Chennai)
• Tuesday, October 24: South Africa v Bangladesh (Mumbai)
• Wednesday, October 25: Australia v Qualifier 1 (Delhi)
• Thursday, October 26: England v Qualifier 2 (Bengaluru)
• Friday, October 27: Pakistan v South Africa (Chennai)
• Saturday, October 28: Qualifier 1 v Bangladesh (Kolkata)
• Saturday, October 28: Australia v New Zealand (Dharamsala)
• Sunday, October 29: India v England (Lucknow)
• Monday, October 30: Afghanistan v Qualifier 2 (Pune)
• Tuesday, October 31: Pakistan v Bangladesh (Kolkata)
• Wednesday, November 1: New Zealand v South Africa (Pune)
• Thursday, November 2: India v Qualifier 2 (Mumbai)
• Friday, November 3: Qualifier 1 v Afghanistan (Lucknow)
• Saturday, November 4: England v Australia (Ahmedabad)
• Saturday, November 4: New Zealand v Pakistan (Bengaluru)
• Sunday, November 5: India v South Africa (Kolkata)
• Monday, November 6: Bangladesh v Qualifier 2 (Delhi)
• Tuesday, November 7: Australia v Afghanistan (Mumbai)
• Wednesday, November 8: England v Qualifier 1 (Pune)
• Thursday, November 9: New Zealand v Qualifier 2 (Bengaluru)
• Friday, November 10: South Africa v Afghanistan (Ahmedabad)
• Saturday, November 11: India v Qualifier 1 (Bengaluru)
• Sunday, November 12: England v Pakistan (Kolkata)
• Sunday, November 12: Australia v Bangladesh (Pune)

Semi-finals

• Wednesday, November 15: Semi-final 1 (Mumbai)
• Thursday, November 16: Semi-final 2 (Kolkata)

Final

• Sunday, November 19: Final (Ahmedabad)