When does the Cricket World Cup start - Opening game, semi-final and final dates

01 October 2023 , 06:30

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England celebrate winning the 2019 Cricket World Cup (Image: Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

England are hoping to defend the Cricket World Cup title they won on home soil four years ago this winter.

Eoin Morgan's men beat New Zealand via the controversial boundary countback rule, having drawn both the match and the super over. England have kept the vast majority of their World Cup winning squad together and go into this year's tournament as double world champions, having also won the T20 World Cup last year.

Now led by Jos Buttler following Morgan's retirement, England are one of the favourites to win the tournament once again. Hosts India are also heavily fancied along with five-time champions Australia, who are currently the top ranked ODI team in the world.

New Zealand will be desperate to win the tournament for the first time in their history having been beaten finalists in the last two editions, while Pakistan are dreaming of a first win since 1992.

South Africa are also hoping for a first ever World Cup win along with Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the Netherlands. Sri Lanka were victorious in 1996, but have not won the tournament since then and only reached this year's World Cup via the qualifiers.

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When is the opening game?

The tournament will get underway on October 5 when England take on New Zealand in Ahmedabad in a rematch of the 2019 final. England have a returning Ben Stokes in their ranks after he decided to reverse his ODI retirement.

New Zealand, meanwhile, will be sweating on the fitness of captain Kane Williamson. The 33-year-old was the player of the tournament in 2019 and has been named in their squad despite not playing a competitive game since March when he ruptured his ACL while on IPL duty.

England will face New Zealand in the World Cup's first game on October 5 (Graham Hunt/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)

When is the semi-final and final?

All ten teams will face each other once in the group stage, with the top four sides then qualifying for the knockouts. The two semi-finals will take place back-to-back on November 15 in Mumbai and November 16 in Kolkata.

The final will then be stage three days later in Ahmedabad on November 19. Each of the three knockout games will have reserve days in case bad weather intervenes.

If Pakistan reach the semi-finals, their game will be the one played in Kolkata regardless of where they finish in the table with the Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly having security concerns about playing in Mumbai.

Matthew Cooper