ICC has announced an action-packed lineup of warm-up fixtures for World Cup 2023, setting the stage for a thrilling week of cricketing battles.
From September 29 to October 3, teams will engage in fierce clashes across three dynamic Indian cities: Guwahati, Hyderabad, and Thiruvananthapuram. While these cities won't host the main tournament matches, they will undoubtedly witness some intense showdowns in the lead-up to the World Cup's opening day on October 5.
READ: Hints for India's CWC23 squad
The inaugural day of the warm-up fixtures promises a riveting start to the cricketing festivities. Guwahati will witness Bangladesh and Sri Lanka battling it out, while Thiruvananthapuram plays host to the clash between South Africa and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, New Zealand and Pakistan will face each other in what is expected to be a fierce encounter. All matches are scheduled to begin at 2pm local time, making them day-night fixtures like most of the World Cup matches.
The details of the warm-up fixtures for World Cup 2023
All ten participating teams will have the chance to play two official 50-over contests. Teams can also field all 15 members of their playing squad, breaking away from the traditional constraints of sticking to specific XIs during batting and bowling.
Among the highly anticipated warm-up fixtures is the clash between cricketing giants India and England on September 30. Adding to the excitement, Australia will be taking on the Netherlands on the same day. Notably, these matches come just three days after the conclusion of the limited-overs series between the respective teams, making it a hectic schedule for two of the top teams in the tournament.
One big celebration in Bahrain for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Trophy 🎉🏆#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/SIwVQBJ8Aw
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) August 22, 2023
Six of the 10 teams play their warm-up games in one city. India, Australia, Afghanistan, and New Zealand, will have the unique opportunity to play across multiple cities.
In tandem with the announcement of warm-up fixtures for World Cup 2023, the ICC has also revealed the official ticketing partners for the World Cup. Cricket enthusiasts can mark August 24 on their calendars, as this marks the start of the pre-sale of tickets. BookMyShow has been revealed as the partner for tickets in India by BCCI.
The upcoming warm-up matches are poised to provide a tantalizing glimpse into the teams' form and strategies as the World Cup fever heats up in India.
Warm-up fixtures for World Cup 2023
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 29-Sep-23 | Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| 29-Sep-23 | South Africa vs Afghanistan | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 29-Sep-23 | New Zealand vs Pakistan | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| 30-Sep-23 | India vs England | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| 30-Sep-23 | Australia vs Netherlands | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 02-Oct-23 | England vs Bangladesh | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| 02-Oct-23 | New Zealand vs South Africa | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 03-Oct-23 | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| 03-Oct-23 | India vs Netherlands | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 03-Oct-23 | Pakistan vs Australia | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
