The International Cricket Council (ICC) released its schedule for the upcoming 50-over World Cup starting on October 5, with a thrilling match between the defending champions, England, and New Zealand.
The event which is being held India will also witness blockbuster India vs Pakistan cricket match a stadium of Ahmedabad which is also the venue for the final showdown.
The announcement comes after weeks of uncertainty caused by Pakistan’s initial refusal to travel to India. However, a breakthrough was achieved when Pakistan agreed to host the Asia Cup in September using a hybrid model. This development paved the way for the resumption of cricketing ties between the neighboring nations.
According to the ICC’s statement, the tournament will follow a round-robin format, with each team playing against the other nine participants. The top four teams will then advance to the knockout stage and compete in the semi-finals.
India and Pakistan, known for their intense rivalry, have traditionally played cricket matches against each other only in international tournaments, often at neutral venues, due to long-standing political tensions. Consequently, any encounter between these two cricketing powerhouses garners immense global attention and serves as a platform for promoting nationalistic fervor at home.
When India and Pakistan do face off on the cricket field, fans worldwide are captivated, resulting in a multi-billion-dollar bonanza for broadcasters. A staggering 273 million viewers tuned in to watch the India-Pakistan clash during the 2019 50-over World Cup.
It is worth noting that India and Pakistan have not engaged in a bilateral series on each other’s soil since 2012. Furthermore, they have not played a Test match against each other since 2007, restricting their encounters to the shorter formats of the game.
This year’s World Cup will mark Pakistan’s first cricketing visit to India since the T20 World Cup held in 2016. India, on the other hand, triumphed in the ODI World Cup on home turf in 2011. Since then, Australia and England have claimed the title in their own countries in 2015 and 2019, respectively.
Cricket enthusiasts across the globe eagerly await this momentous event, hoping for unforgettable matches and iconic performances that will further immortalize the storied rivalry between India and Pakistan on the cricket field.
