With less than 40 days remaining until the ICC World Cup 2023, teams are currently busy in the last phase of their screening processes. As part of the final preparations, the countries participating in the World Cup will have the opportunity to play multiple matches in India, the main venue of the World Cup. It was already known that Bangladesh would play at least two matches in India before the World Cup. Now, the complete schedule of the warm-up matches for the ICC men’s cricket World Cup 2023 has been published.

Schedules and fixtures of ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up matches

Table: ICC cricket World Cup Matches 2023: Schedules and fixtures

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Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List

ICC will organize a total of 10 warm-up matches in 4 days before the World Cup. The matches will be held in three stadiums in India. Each team will get two matches to familiarize themselves with the conditions. According to the ICC, all the preparatory matches will be in the day and night schedule. Each match will start at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. All 15 players are allowed to play in these warm-up matches. The World Cup Captain's Day will be held on October 4 after the October 3 matches. The captains of the participating teams will be introduced on this day. On the 5th, the main event of this World Cup will begin with the match between the two finalists of the last World Cup, England vs. New Zealand.

South Africa, Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Pakistan will play World Cup preparation matches on September 29. The Proteas vs. Afghanistan match will be played at Greenfield International Stadium and the Pakistan-Kiwis match at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. Bangladesh will play Sri Lanka on the same day at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.

India-England and Australia-Netherlands will play the next day, on September 30. The first match will be played in Guwahati, and the next match will be played at Greenfield Stadium.

The Tigers' second opponent is the mighty England. The warm-up match will be played at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on October 2. New Zealand will play against South Africa on the same day at Greenfield Stadium.

On the last day of the warm-up schedule, 3 matches will be held on October 3. Afghanistan vs. Sri Lanka in the first match of the day, India vs. Netherlands in the second match, and Pakistan vs. Australia in the third match.

All the warm-up matches will be played 50 overs per side. However, these matches will not carry ODI status as the teams can send all their 15-player squad to the field.

Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Venues: Cities and Stadiums in India

Venues for World Cup 2023 Warm-up Matches

Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati

The Assam Cricket Association Stadium, commonly referred to as ACA Stadium or Barsapara Cricket Stadium, is located in Guwahati, Assam, India. Serving as the home field for the Assam cricket team, the stadium is under the Assam Cricket Association. Nestled amidst Assam's natural beauty, this stadium is a modern masterpiece that has hosted numerous thrilling matches. With a seating capacity of around 50,000, it offers an electric atmosphere for cricket enthusiasts.

Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram

The Greenfield International Stadium, also known as The Sports Hub and previously called Trivandrum International Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Kerala, India. The stadium was built on 36 acres of land. This stadium is special because it's the first one in India that followed the DBOT (design, build, operate, and transfer) model. The stadium is an important venue for the Kerala cricket team.

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

With 55,000 capacity, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium will host three World Cup matches. But it will only host two warm-up matches. People sometimes call it Hyderabad Cricket Stadium. The Hyderabad Cricket Association and the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the Indian Premier League use this stadium as their home ground.

Final Words

ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up matches will play an essential role in preparing teams for the grand stage of the tournament. These matches will give teams a chance to fine-tune their strategies, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and get accustomed to the conditions of the host country. They provide valuable insights into team dynamics and player form, helping captains and coaches make crucial decisions before the actual tournament begins. 

Warm-up matches also generate excitement among fans, offering a glimpse of the intense competition that awaits in the World Cup. While the results of these matches may not officially count, the lessons learned and the experience gained will be invaluable as teams strive for success in the World Cup.

Read more: Bangladesh's Fixtures for ICC World Cup 2023