GUWAHATI: Cricket enthusiasts in Guwahati have reason to cheer as the International Cricket Council (ICC) recently revealed the schedule for the pre-World Cup warm-up matches in the lead-up to the much-anticipated World Cup 2023 wherein Guwahati's Barsapara Stadium has been chosen to showcase four thrilling warm-up encounters.
In an announcement made on Thursday, the ICC has laid out the timetable for the warm-up matches preceding the upcoming World Cup tournament, set to be held in India.
Guwahati's Barsapara Stadium, which had previously faced disappointment when it was not selected by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to host a World Cup 2023 match, will now play host to these preparatory matches.
The decision had dashed the hopes of cricket enthusiasts from the Northeastern region of India, who had longed to witness a World Cup match in their city. Nonetheless, Guwahati was chosen as one of the cities to stage the warm-up matches, offering fans a taste of the cricketing excitement.
As per the schedule released by the ICC, Guwahati's Barsapara Stadium is all set to welcome cricket fans for four enthralling warm-up fixtures, scheduled from September 29 to October 3.
The action kicks off on September 29 with a clash between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the opening warm-up match.
The following day, on September 30, India will take on England in the second warm-up match, promising an exciting face-off.
The cricketing momentum will continue with the third warm-up match on October 2, featuring England and Bangladesh in a thrilling encounter.
Wrapping up the warm-up series on a high note, the final match in Guwahati will see Afghanistan and Sri Lanka battling it out on October 3.
It's worth noting that all ten participating teams in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will engage in two official 50-over contests each during the week leading up to the commencement of the World Cup on October 5.
These matches are slated to take place across three distinct cities within India, as declared by the ICC.
The entire schedule of the Warm-Up Fixtures has been given below:
Friday, September 29:
Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
South Africa v Afghanistan, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.
New Zealand v Pakistan, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
Saturday, September 30:
India v England, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
Australia v Netherlands, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.
Monday, October 2:
England v Bangladesh, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
New Zealand v South Africa, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.
Tuesday, October 3:
Afghanistan v Sri Lanka, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
India v Netherlands, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.
Pakistan v Australia, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.