It’s been a long time coming for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. Just like the FIFA variation, this event is scheduled to take place every four years—but difficulties with scheduling qualifiers during 2020 left many with doubts. When it was announced that the tournament would be pushed from spring to autumn, cricket fans around the world held their breath.
Further troubles this summer related to the 2023 Asia Cup, including discord between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, left more uncertainty in the air. Thankfully, a compromise was found—and Indian fans sat glued to their televisions as the national team took home a title.
For many, India’s victory at the 2023 Asian Games has left palpable excitement in the air related to the upcoming World Cup. The team isn’t just in top shape—many players are also at the height of their careers. As the world gears up for the first match, scheduled for 5 October 2023, let’s cover some of the biggest stories surrounding this World Cup.
India’s Potential Home Turf Win
Easily one of the hottest stories in the world connected to the World Cup—and cricket in general—is the likelihood of India taking home the title on their home turf. At the moment, cricket odds list the national Indian team as the official favorite at 3.20 to make it to the Finals and pull through—but close behind are England and Australia with odds of 4.00 and 5.00, respectively.
Even for fans who don’t regularly watch cricket, it’s a highly intriguing storyline to follow—and it’s easy for casual fans to pull for a big win for India in Ahmedabad on 19 November. This is especially true considering India has never hosted the World Cup solo. During previous World Cups in 1987, 1996, and 2011, the country co-hosted alongside Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and/or Bangladesh. In 2011, they managed to become world champions—but can they repeat?
All Eyes on the India-Pakistan Match
The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is one of the greatest rivalries in sports. Since the 1950s, both nations have faced off in ODIs, T20s, and test matches frequently. Currently, Pakistan holds more wins for test matches and ODIs, while India leads when it comes to T20 matches. That means it’s a big deal for India to win in the context of a World Cup.
These two teams will face off on October 14 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad—the world’s largest stadium aside from North Korea’s Rungrado 1st stadium.
A Scramble for Visas
The 2023 Cricket World Cup includes ten teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. As one of the world’s most popular sports, India will play host to millions of visitors during the tournament’s run.
However, there are recent concerns related to ticket-holding fans who are unable to obtain visas in time. Part of this issue falls back to the rescheduling that took place in 2020—in fact, dates and matches were only set about 100 days before the October 5 kickoff. This has left many scrambling as they try to obtain Indian visas to watch their national teams compete. For example, it could take some fans from Bangladesh up to three months to receive a visa.
Behind the Scenes: Inside the Campaign Rally
Major sports events often take on a larger meaning. That’s especially true for the upcoming tournament in India, as the country will have major elections the following spring. Because cricket is a national sport, and one that transcends social boundaries, it’s a hugely important time for candidates to rev up their campaign engines.
While unrelated to cricket and the ultimate outcome of the 2023 ICC World Cup, this will be an intriguing element that underpins the tournament—at least, for locals. Whether or not visitors will notice all the campaigning remains to be seen. However, it’s worth pointing out that the tournament, and a potential win for India, could have a profound influence on the country’s morale heading into April.
