2023 Cricket World Cup Starts Today

Held every four years, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is one of the most awaited cricket championships in the world. It was first organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1975 in England. The Cricket World Cup is played in One Day International (ODI) format. Countries worldwide take part in the championship, hoping to win the prestigious title and take home the shining trophy. A total of 10 teams participate in the championship. 

This year, we are witnessing the 13th edition of the Cricket World Cup. What makes this World Cup even more special is the fact that it is being hosted by India. The 2023 World Cup is starting today, on October 5th. It is scheduled to end on November 19. The championship was originally expected to occur in February and March. The qualification rounds for every World Cup take place in the three years prior to the event. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the qualification schedule for this year’s World Cup was thrown off. This is why the 2023 World Cup had to be delayed till October.

India has hosted the World Cup a few times in the past. However, it has always been in association with another host nation. This is the first time that the Men’s Cricket World Cup is being hosted by India alone. The venues for the first, second and final matches of the competition are the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, respectively. The first match of the tournament will start at 2 PM today and will be played between England and New Zealand. 

The two mascots of the 2023 World Cup, named “Tonk” and “Blaze” are a male and female duo who represent gender equality.