ODI World Cup 2023: Draft schedule out, India to play arch-rivals Pakistan on THIS date

After a long drawn out wait, the first draft schedule of the highly-anticipated ODI World Cup is out.

And the marquee tournament’s most awaited clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan has reportedly been scheduled for October 15 in Ahmedabad.

The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) prepared the draft schedule and sent it to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The ICC has shared the schedule with the participating countries for feedback following which the final schedule will be drafted, reported ESPNCricinfo.

As per the scedule, hosts India are all set to open their campaign against heavyweights Australia on October 8 in the coastal city of Chennai.

Meanwhile, the opening game is likely to be played 3 days earlier between defending champions England and 2019 runners-up New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Rest of Team India’s league fixtures have been spread across 7 other venues. Here is the hosts’ likely itinerary:

• India vs Australia, Oct 8, Chennai
• India vs Afghanistan, Oct 11, Delhi
• India vs Pakistan, Oct 15, Ahmedabad
• India vs Bangladesh, Oct 19, Pune
• India vs NZ, Oct 22, Dharamsala
• India vs England, Oct 29, Lucknow
• India vs qualifier, Nov 2, Mumbai
• India vs SA, Nov 5, Kolkata
• India vs qualifier, Nov 11, Bengaluru

The venues for semifinals are not confirmed yet, which are likely to be played on November 15 and 16. The Final will be played on November 19 and reportedly the World Cup will conclude where it began, in Ahmedabad.

With the event less than 4 months away, this is the first time that the schedule is yet to be finalised so close to the tournament's commencement. For the past two ODI World Cups, the schedules were revealed nearly a yearly in advance.