Pakistan and India are set to clash in the much-awaited encounter of the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 15 October. The neighboring countries face each other on Indian soil for the first time since the T20 World Cup 2016, and a massive attendance expected at the iconic venue.
According to media reports, the tournament will kick off on 5 October with defending champions, England, facing New Zealand after a grand opening ceremony in Ahmedabad. The Men in Green will begin their campaign against one of the qualifiers on October 13, while the Rohit Sharma-led Indian side will face Australia in their opening game in Chennai.
Reports state that Pakistan and Bangladesh play most of their matches in Chennai, Bengaluru, Guwahati, and Kolkata, respectively, with each team participating in nine matches. The event is likely to hosted across seven venues, including Nagpur, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Rajkot, Indore, Bengaluru, and Dharamshala.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expected to announce the schedule after the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). The Narendra Modi Stadium, with a seating capacity of around 132,000, is the biggest stadium in the world and the biggest in India.
The Pakistan-India match is undoubtedly the most anticipated clash of the tournament, as the rivalry between the two teams has always been a major talking point. Cricket fans from both countries eagerly await this clash, and the tickets for this encounter expected to sell out within minutes.
The Pakistan cricket team is currently in good form, having won six of their last ten ODI matches, while India has won eight of their last ten matches. The two teams last met in the ICC World Cup 2019, where India emerged victorious.
It will be interesting to see how both teams prepare for this high-profile encounter, as it is not only a matter of pride but also an opportunity to make a statement in the tournament. With both teams having talented players in their ranks, the match promises to be a nail-biting encounter that fans will not want to miss.
