Bangladesh will kick off their campaign in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with two matches. Their first match is against Afghanistan on October 7, followed by a game against England on October 10. Both matches will take place in the picturesque hill city of Dharamsala, as Bangladesh aims to secure a spot in the tournament’s knockout stage for the first time.
In addition to Dharamsala, Bangladesh will also compete in two matches each in Pune and Kolkata. On October 19, they will face India in Pune, and on November 12, they will have a day match against Australia. Their fixtures in Kolkata include a crucial match against sub-continental rivals Pakistan.
The tournament opener as well as the final will be hosted in Ahmedabad, while other matches will be held in Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune. Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram will join Hyderabad in hosting the practice games.
Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has expressed unwavering confidence ahead of the 10-team tournament, believing that his team will adapt well to the prevailing conditions. Tamim emphasized the significance of the World Cup, highlighting its challenging nature in testing a player’s game awareness and temperament. He also expressed enthusiasm for playing in India, praising the electric atmosphere, great stadiums, and knowledgeable cricket fans that contribute to a fulfilling experience. Tamim expressed confidence in the team’s composition, citing a strong performance in ODIs and a successful World Cup qualifying campaign, as well as a favorable familiarity with the conditions.
The tournament follows a round-robin format with all teams playing against each other in a total of 45 league matches. There are six-day matches scheduled to start at 10:30 am local time, while all other matches, including the knockouts, will be day-night fixtures beginning at 2 pm. The top four teams will advance to the semi-finals, which will be held in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16. Reserve days have been allocated for the semi-finals and the final.
Bangladesh Fixtures at World Cup 2023 (day-night matches unless specified otherwise):
- October 7: vs Afghanistan, Dharamsala
- October 10: vs England, Dharamsala
- October 14: vs New Zealand, Chennai
- October 19: vs India, Pune
- October 24: vs South Africa, Mumbai
- October 28: vs Qualifier 1, Kolkata
- October 31: vs Pakistan, Kolkata
- November 6: vs Qualifier 2, Delhi
- November 12: vs Australia, Pune (day match)
