KABUL (SW): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced schedule for some key matches at the forthcoming ICC One Day International (ODI) World Cup 2019.
The tournament returns to the format used in 1992: all 10 teams play each other in the league stage with four of them progressing to the knockouts.
Defending champions Australia will play qualifiers Afghanistan in Bristol on June 2 under lights. That match is one of seven day-night contests scheduled for the tournament, including the June 29 clash between 2015 finalists Australia and New Zealand at Lord's. In all, the tournament comprises 48 matches to be played across 46 days.
In March, Afghanistan and West Indies booked the final two slots after finishing as the top two teams in the World Cup Qualifier.
The India-Pakistan contest, at the same venue that hosted their Super Six clashin the 1999 edition of the tournament, is expected to once again attract record eyeballs, as was the case during both their meetings during last year's Champions Trophy, ESPN cricinfo reported.
The return to the 1992 format, and the schedule, were approved by the ICC' chief executives committee (CEC) during the ICC's quarterly meetings on Monday and Tuesday. The ICC Board, which meets on Thursday, is yet to ratify the CEC's decisions.
Along with hosts England, seven other countries – Australia, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka – secured a direct entry to the World Cup last September. In March, Afghanistan and West Indies booked the final two slots after finishing as the top two teams in the World Cup Qualifier.
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