GUWAHATI: In an exciting turn of events, Guwahati's Barsapara Stadium has been chosen as the venue for four warm-up matches leading up to the ICC World Cup 2023. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently unveiled the schedule for these matches, offering a silver lining to cricket enthusiasts from the Northeastern region who were disheartened when the stadium was excluded from hosting any World Cup 2023 matches.
The announcement back in June, when the ICC revealed the World Cup schedule for India, left Guwahati's cricket fans disappointed as their hopes of witnessing a World Cup clash in their own city were dashed. However, the cricketing hub of Guwahati was not entirely left out. It was selected, alongside several other cities, to hold the warm-up matches that will pave the way for the much-anticipated tournament.
Commencing on September 29 and culminating on October 3, Guwahati's Barsapara Stadium will witness four thrilling warm-up encounters. The action-packed series will kick off with a match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on September 29. The excitement will continue the next day with India locking horns with England. The stadium will also host the clash between England and Bangladesh on October 2, followed by the final warm-up battle between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
The ICC's decision to include Guwahati in the warm-up match schedule not only compensates for the city missing out on the World Cup matches but also provides an opportunity for local fans to witness high-quality cricketing action on their home turf. The warm-up matches are expected to showcase the prowess of international cricket teams and set the stage for the World Cup spectacle that is set to begin on October 5.
The entire week leading up to the World Cup will be marked by a series of official 50-over contests. Each of the ten participating teams in the World Cup will engage in two matches during this period, creating an electrifying atmosphere of competition and anticipation. The warm-up matches are distributed across three different cities in India, contributing to the widespread enthusiasm for the game across the country.
Guwahati's Barsapara Stadium's role in hosting the warm-up matches for ICC World Cup 2023 comes as a welcome surprise for cricket fans. It not only compensates for the city's exclusion from the main event but also brings the cricket frenzy directly to the doorstep of the Northeastern region.
ALSO WATCH: