Pakistan has been placed in a tough Pool B with India, South Africa and West Indies.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule of matches for the upcoming Cricket World Cup scheduled to start in for February 2015 and jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The announcement was made by the ICC official twitter account just as two simultaneous launch events took place at Melbourne in Australia and Wellington in New Zealand.
Take a look at the 14 #cwc15 host cities across Australia and New Zealand #cricket http://t.co/1N9cxpntgn
— ICC (@ICC) July 30, 2013
Per the announced schedule, the tournament will kick off on February 14, with New Zealand taking on Sri Lanka in Christchurch, and Australia taking on England at the MCG in Melbourne.
Great news for Cantabrians – Christchurch will host the opening match of @cricketworldcup between Sri Lanka & NZ on Sat 14 Feb 2015. #CWC15
— John Key (@RtHon_JohnKey) July 30, 2013
The final match of the world cup will be played in Melbourne on March 29.
Pakistan, placed in pool B, will get their campaign underway in Adelaide on February 15 against arch rivals and defending champions India in a day and night encounter.
World cup a tourism boost
The ICC chose to host two simultaneous events to mark the launch of the world cup. The one in Melbourne was attended by the Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd who voiced hope that the tournament will bring tourism and trade along with the fans.
“This is one of the biggest events in world sport,” Rudd said.
“It will attract cricket fans from around the globe and also promote Australia and our close friend New Zealand internationally -especially in India and other parts of south Asia,” the Australian cricket board website reported him as saying.
Rudd was accompanied by former captains Ian Chappell (Australia), Kapil Dev (India) and Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) and cricketing legend Dennis Lillee.
In Wellington, the New Zealand prime minister John Key attended along with former great Sir Richard Hadlee and former captains Waqar Younis (Pakistan), Glenn Turner (New Zealand) and Stephen Fleming (New Zealand).
Attending Cricket World Cup 2015 launch in Wgton. Great games 4 NZ. Qtr-final in Wgton. Semi in Akl #cwc15 pic.twitter.com/Iczdz1vEyS
— Steven Joyce (@stevenljoyce) July 30, 2013
The 14 venues for matches have been distributed among Australia and New Zealand, with both countries hosting matches in seven of their cities.
Australian hosting cities include: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth, Canberra and Brisbane. While the New Zealand cities which will be hosting matches include: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Napier, Nelson and Wellington.
While the pool matches have been evenly divided, Australia gets the big final and bulk of the quarter finals, but New Zealand gets to host one quarter final and one semi final.
It's official, the @MCG will host the @cricketworldcup 2015 Final while the @scg will host one of the semi finals #cwc15
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 30, 2013
Chief executive of the Local Organising Committee, John Harnden, said ticket prices would not be announced until later in the year but would be affordable.
“This tournament is about the best teams, the best players and their endurance and skills that will see only the best left standing. We want as many fans as possible to be a part of this rare event,” Mr Harnden said.
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson, who attended the event launch in Melbourne, said “The ICC Cricket World Cup is the flagship tournament of the 50-over game. The 2015 tournament will mark 40 years since the first World Cup in 1975 and that history of great contests and heroes helps make the tournament what it is – the most sought after prize in our increasingly global game.”
The world cup is returning to Australia and New Zealand after 23 years. Then, an Imran Khan led Pakistan won the final against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“I’m absolutely confident that the success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will further strengthen the status of 50-over cricket as a successful and viable format alongside Tests and Twenty20 Internationals,” Richardson said.
Pools
Pool A: England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Qualifier 2 and Qualifier 3.
Pool B: South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies Zimbabwe, Ireland and Qualifier 4
The full fixture list can be found here.
COMMENTS (22)
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Those who are describing India as ARCH RIVALS guys just grow up.
To all Pakistani: . Guys Just remember this if India lost against Pakistan then worldcup 2015 is going to stay in India. If India win again Pakistan then Pakistan have a chance of taking World Cup to Pakistan. Now tell me what do you want ?? Win again India Or World Cup 2015 ???
2015 World Cup Won Pakistan INSHA ALLAH
Pakistan lost by 3 wickets surely as this is our experience in big matches in big events specially against India.. Koeee Shaaaaak??????
Inshah ALLAH In opening match Pakistan given surprise to India and defeated him with secured 1st position in his pool.
no chance for pakistan
Totally irrelevant heading! I thought Pakistan is not happy about something and will launch a campaign against India..may be because of some favoritism by ICC. Much better choice for heading could have been - World Cup 2015: Pakistan will take on India in Adelaide.
Though I am too fat to see matches in NZ but I will definitely be their in MCG!!
It will be interesting... Pakistan opens their 2015 World Cup Campaign against arch rivals and defending champions India in a day and night encounter on February 15. That will very well set the tone for Pakistan. The T20 team, with many fresh faces, looked good in the West Indies. We can only hope Pakistan starts to build an exciting and competitive team for the World Cup. With the schedule announced by ICC, there will be an urgency to have a cohesive and talented team gel together and soon.
Abdul Qaddus DET-United States Central Command
India opener and Windies to follow.. Where is my passport I am going to Adelaide Oval in Feb 2015.. Cmon Team Pakistan Get the trophy...
@Hamza Attair: "... and specially against their arch-rivals India"
That's a parochial and sick comment to make. Cricket is a beautiful game that teaches one sportsmanship and the gentleman's spirit. Pakistanis have reduced it to hate-mongering and scoring brownie points. No wonder the cricketing world avoids Pakistan like the pest.
Pool B is tougher. We will have to do well to qualify. Comments about bringing the cup home are way too optimistic. Good luck team Pakistan.
So India gets 2 points right after the first match.
Well I am booking the first India Pak game in Adelaide and the three games in Canberra because most of other good games that Pak is playing will be held in NZ! But I think this will be one of the best cricket competition :)
WC in Australia, will be great to see and IA Pakistan will bring the Cup back again...
InshaALLAH Pakistani team will repeat the history of last WC hosted by Oceania in 1992.
pakistan team win wc 2015 inshaallah and pak team great pool distrebute.....................................................
The headline was so misleading
Never thought I'd see John Key's tweet on E.T. Great to see the World Cup down under, gonna see who rules the world,...after Imran Khan of course ;)