Tag: ICC World Cup 2023

AHMEDABAD: Pakistan Men’s cricket team landed in Ahmedabad through a chartered plane from Hyderabad on Wednesday for the much anticipated ICC World Cup 2023 clash against India on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

The Pakistan team will rest today before hitting the nets tomorrow for the two-day training session ahead of the India game.

According to the details, Pakistan’s World Cup-bound contingent will engage in a rigorous practice session from 6 PM to 9 PM local time on Thursday (tomorrow) after reaching Ahmedabad today via chartered flight.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

They will continue their training on Friday from 2 PM to 5 PM and will partake in several batting, bowling and fielding drills to boast their preparations for the most anticipated clash of the ICC World Cup 2023.

The Green Shirts scripted a decent start to their World Cup campaign with a resounding 81-run victory over the Netherlands on Friday at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, in their second match against Sri Lanka yesterday, Pakistan pulled off the highest run chase in the history of the World Cup, courtesy of gutsy centuries by Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan.

Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.

Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan

Pakistan’s remaining ICC World Cup 2023 fixtures

• October 14 – vs India in Ahmedabad
• October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru
• October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai
• October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai
• October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
• November 4 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
• November 11 – vs England in Kolkata

The day matches will start at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures, starting at 01:30 pm (PST).

READ: Kane Williamson, Tim Southee likely to be fit for Bangladesh match

AHMEDABAD: Pakistan Men’s cricket team is set to undergo a two-day training session, commencing tomorrow in Ahmedabad ahead of the high-octane ICC World Cup 2023 clash against India on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

According to the details, Pakistan’s World Cup-bound contingent will engage in a rigorous practice session from 6 PM to 9 PM local time on Thursday (tomorrow) after reaching Ahmedabad today via chartered flight.

They will continue their training on Friday from 2 PM to 5 PM and will partake in several batting, bowling and fielding drills to boast their preparations for the most anticipated clash of the ICC World Cup 2023.

The Green Shirts scripted a decent start to their World Cup campaign with a resounding 81-run victory over the Netherlands on Friday at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, in their second match against Sri Lanka yesterday, Pakistan pulled off the highest run chase in the history of the World Cup, courtesy of gutsy centuries by Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Pakistan, however, had a contrasting start to the pursuit as they had slipped to 37/2 in the eighth over as opening batter Imam-ul-Haq (12) and captain Babar Azam (10) failed to score big.

Following the slump, Mohammad Rizwan joined Abdullah Shafique in the middle and the pair launched an astounding recovery.

They batted sensibly over the course of their marathon partnership which saw them adding 176 runs to the total with Abdullah scoring his maiden ODI century.

Abdullah was dismissed after scoring 113 in 103 deliveries, laced up with 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Mohammad Rizwan then took the reigns of Pakistan run chase and he stitched a crucial 95-run partnership with Saud Shakeel, who scored a 30-ball 31 before perishing in the 45th over.

Rizwan held his ground firm and hit the winning runs for Pakistan in the penultimate over after notable support from Iftikhar Ahmed, who remained unbeaten on 22 in just 10 balls.

Mohammad Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan in their second ICC World Cup 2023 fixture with an unbeaten 131 in 121 deliveries, smashing eight boundaries and three sixes.

READ: Kane Williamson, Tim Southee likely to be fit for Bangladesh match

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is likely to achieve full fitness, while pace bowler Tim Southee is available for selection for New Zealand’s third match in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023, confirmed head coach Gary Stead.

New Zealand’s head coach during a press conference provided the latest update on Kane Williamson and Tim Southee ahead of the Bangladesh match on October 13 in Chennai.

“He [Kane Williamson] is been progressing very very well. He’s had a great last five or six days, really went about the fielding aspect of things,” Stead said. “That’s the key thing for Kane at the moment. It’s not about his injury so much now, it’s his ability to run between the wickets and to field and to consistently do that over a 50-over game. We’re delighted with where he’s at,”

Gary Stead shared that the final decision regarding Kane Williamson’s availability will be taken after more training sessions before the match.

“We’ve got two more trainings still to get through but at this stage all things are looing good for Kane to return in this game. But we still say that with an air of caution but we’re really pleased with the way he has been coming on,” he added.

Kane Williamson tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee playing for Indian Premier League side Gujarat Titans in April, which looked to have scuppered his chances of making the showpiece tournament.

However, he made it to New Zealand’s squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 and participated in New Zealand’s warm-up games against Pakistan and South Africa, scoring 54 and 37 respectively.

He missed New Zealand’s thumping nine-wicket win over defending champions England and an astounding 99-run victory over the Netherlands during the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

In his absence, Rachin Ravindra was promoted to play at number 3 during the World Cup and he justified the decision by scoring a century and a fifty in two games.

Stead shed light on how New Zealand will fit Kane Williamson in the playing XI.

“If Kane is available, he will play. There is no doubt about that. He is one of the best players in the world. The discussions we are having at the moment is like how does that still fit?” said Stead.

Gary Stead also confirmed that Tim Southee has recovered after surgery on his fractured right thumb and is available for selection.

“Tim will be available for selection, he’s been tracking well. Looks like the thumb has set very very well,” Stead said. “He has been bowling at full intensity for the last couple of training sessions so he is certainly available for selection.”

READ: Abdullah, Rizwan aid Pakistan pull record World Cup run-chase against Sri Lanka

HYDERABAD: Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan struck gutsy centuries to power Pakistan to pull off the highest World Cup run-chase in the eighth match of the ICC World Cup 2023 on Tuesday.

Set to chase a daunting 345, Pakistan knocked off the winning runs with 10 balls to spare to hand Sri Lanka a six-wicket defeat, their second in the tournament.

Pakistan, however, had a contrasting start to the pursuit as they had slipped to 37/2 in the eighth over as opening batter Imam-ul-Haq (12) and captain Babar Azam (10) failed to score big.

Following the slump, Mohammad Rizwan joined Abdullah Shafique in the middle and the pair launched an astounding recovery.

They batted sensibly over the course of their marathon partnership which saw them adding 176 runs to the total with Abdullah scoring his maiden ODI century.

Matheesha Pathirana then finally broke the shackles for Sri Lanka when he got rid of the danger man Abdullah Shafique, courtesy of a stunning catch by substitute Dushan Hemantha.

He scored 113 in 103 deliveries, laced up with 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Mohammad Rizwan then took the reigns of Pakistan run chase and he stitched a crucial 95-run partnership with Saud Shakeel, who scored a 30-ball 31 before perishing in the 45th over.

Rizwan held his ground firm and hit the winning runs for Pakistan in the penultimate over after notable support from Iftikhar Ahmed, who remained unbeaten on 22 in just 10 balls.

Mohammad Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan in their second ICC World Cup 2023 fixture with an unbeaten 131 in 121 deliveries, smashing eight boundaries and three sixes.

Dilshan Madushanka led the bowling attack for Sri Lanka with 2/60 while Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana struck out a batter apiece.

Opting to bat first, Sri Lankan batters justified their captain’s decision by dominating the struggling Pakistan bowling attack to set a massive total, courtesy of Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama’s centuries.

Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a poor start to their innings as opening batter Kusal Perera fell for a four-ball duck in the second over with just five runs on the board.

Following an early blow, Kusal Mendis joined Pathum Nissanka in the middle and put together an anchoring 102-run stand which lasted in the 18th over when Shadab Khan got rid of the latter.

Nissanka struck seven boundaries and a six on his way to a 61-ball 51.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Mendis was then involved in yet another century-plus partnership when he stitched 111 runs for the third wicket with Sadeera Samarawickrama before finally perishing in the 29th over.

He top-scored for Sri Lanka with a quickfire 122 in just 77 deliveries, laced up with 14 boundaries and six sixes.

Following his departure, Samarawickrama took the reigns of Sri Lanka’s batting charge and put on brief yet crucial partnerships with Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka before finally perishing in the 48th over.

Samarawickrama smashed 11 boundaries and two sixes on his way to an 89-ball 108.

Pakistan bowlers recollected themselves after Samarawickrama’s dismissal and made a late comeback to stop the flow of runs but Sri Lanka still managed to set a daunting target for Babar Azam’s side.

Hasan Ali led the bowling attack for Pakistan with four wickets but was expensive as he leaked 71 runs in his 10 overs while Haris Rauf bagged two.

Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Shah Afridi, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

READ: Cricket set for Olympics return at Los Angeles 2028

DHARAMSALA: Opening batter Dawid Malan scored a blistering knock of 140 off 107 before Reece Topley’s four-fer propelled England to a thumping 137-run victory over Bangladesh in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

Set to chase a mammoth 365, Bangladesh could score 227 despite Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim’s half-centuries.

Bangladesh had a dismal start to their run chase as Reece Topley ran through their top order, dismissing Tanzid Hasan (1), Najmul Hossain Shanto (0) and Shakib Al Hasan (1) with just 26 runs on the board in the sixth over.

Bangladesh then further slipped to 49/4 in the ninth over when Mehidy Hasan Miraz fell for a seven-ball eight.

Following the slump, Das then received subtle support at the other end in the form of Mushfiqur Rahim and the pair put together an anchoring partnership.

Das and Rahim added 72 runs for the fifth wicket before the former fell in the 21st over.

He remained the top-scorer for Bangladesh with a 66-ball 76 which featured seven boundaries and two sixes.

Mushfiqur Rahim followed Das back to the dugout after putting on a cautious 43-run partnership with Towhid Hridoy.

He scored 51 in 64 deliveries with the help of four boundaries.

Bangladesh then suffered another major blow to their pursuit as Liam Livingstone removed their last set-batter Towhid Hridoy in the 40th over when the side still needed 176 runs.

Hridoy scored 39 in 61 deliveries with the help of two boundaries.

Bangladesh’s batting tail, comprised of Mahedi Hasan (14), Taskin Ahmed (14) and Shoriful Islam (12) offered some resistance but Sam Curran picked up the final wicket to wrap up a massive victory for England.

Topley led the bowling attack for England with 4/43, followed by Chris Woakes, who returned with 2/49 while Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, Mark Wood and Livingstone struck out a batter each.

England got off to a flying start after being invited to bat by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, courtesy of a 115-run opening stand.

Opening batters Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan completed their half-centuries during the partnership before the former was bowled by Shakib Al Hasan.

Bairstow walked back to pavillion having scored 52 of 59 with the help of eight boundaries.

Joe Root then joined Dawid Malan and together they wreaked havoc on Bangladesh bowlers, adding brisk 151 runs from 117 balls for the second wicket.

Mahedi Hasan, who replaced Mahmudullah in this game, broke the stand as he castled Dawid Malan in the 38th over at a total of 266.

Malan’s blistering 140-run knock featured 16 boundaries and five sixes.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

England skipper Jos Buttler (20) and Joe Root were then involved in a brief 14-ball partnership of 30 runs before Shoriful Islam sent them back in consecutive overs.

Joe Root scored an impactful 82 off 68 balls with the help of eight boundaries and one six, however, he was caught behind off Shoriful’s slower ball.

Shoriful Islam bowled Liam Livingstone on the next ball to hand him a golden duck, reducing England to 307-4 in the 42nd over.

England, at one stage, appeared to breach the 400-run mark, however, after losing three quick wickets they failed to recover and ended up scoring 364-9 in their accumulated 50 overs.

Bangladesh bowlers made a good comeback in the death overs, picking up six wickets in the last ten overs.

Mahedi Hasan topped the bowling charts with figures of 4-71, while Shoriful Islam picked three wickets.

READ: Cricket set for Olympics return at Los Angeles 2028

HYDERABAD: Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan struck gutsy centuries to power Pakistan to pull off the highest World Cup run-chase in the eighth match of the ICC World Cup 2023 on Tuesday.

PAK 348/4 (48.2 Overs)

Madushanka bowls

PAK 344/4 (48 Overs)

Pathirana replaces Madushanka

PAK 325/4 (47 Overs)

Wellalage comes back

PAK 319/4 (46 Overs)

Madushanka returns

PAK 314/4 (45 Overs)

Theekshana again

PAK 306/3 (44 Overs)

Wellalage returns

PAK 294/3 (43 Overs)

Theekshana again

PAK 283/3 (42 Overs)

Pathirana comes back

PAK 275/3 (41 Overs)

Theekshana continues

PAK 271/3 (40 Overs)

Madushanka continues

PAK 264/3 (39 Overs)

Theekshana replaces Dhananjaya

PAK 255/3 (38 Overs)

Madushanka comes back

PAK 251/3 (37 Overs)

Dhananjaya continues

PAK 239/3 (36 Overs)

Pathirana continues

PAK 228/3 (35 Overs)

Dhananjaya returns

PAK 223/3 (34 Overs)

33.1: Short ball, outside off and Shafique carves this in the air towards backward point, where substitute Dushan Hemantha dives full length to his right and grabs this in full flight.

Pathirana replaces Madushanka

PAK 213/2 (33 Overs)

Theekshana comes back

PAK 207/2 (32 Overs)

Madushanka returns

PAK 188/2 (31 Overs)

Shanaka comes back

PAK 182/2 (30 Overs)

Wellalage bowls

PAK 170/2 (29 Overs)

Pathirana returns

PAK 158/2 (28 Overs)

Wellalage again

PAK 151/2 (27 Overs)

Charith Asalanka comes on

PAK 141/2 (26 Overs)

Wellalage continues

PAK 138/2 (25 Overs)

Theekshana continues

PAK 133/2 (24 Overs)

Wellalage bowls

PAK 125/2 (23 Overs)

Theekshana returns

PAK 121/2 (22 Overs)

Wellalage continues

PAK 120/2 (21 Overs)

Dhananjaya continues

PAK 110/2 (20 Overs)

Wellalage replaces Pathirana

PAK 104/2 (19 Overs)

Dhananjaya de Silva into the attack

PAK 95/2 (18 Overs)

Pathirana continues to bowl

PAK 86/2 (17 Overs)

Wellalage continues

PAK 81/2 (16 Overs)

Pathirana continues

PAK 71/2 (15 Overs)

Dunith Wellalage comes on

PAK 69/2 (14 Overs)

Pathirana continues

PAK 61/2 (13 Overs)

Shanaka to continue

PAK 55/2 (12 Overs)

Matheesha Pathirana comes into the attack

PAK 52/2 (11 Overs)

Shanaka bowls

PAK 48/2 (10 Overs)

Dilshan Madushanka bowls

PAK 40/2 (9 Overs)

Shanaka continues

PAK 37/2 (8 Overs)

Madushanka again

PAK 36/1 (7 Overs)

Dasun Shanaka comes into the attack

PAK 27/1 (6 Overs)

Madushanka bowls again

PAK 22/1 (5 Overs)

Theekshana again

PAK 20/1 (4 Overs)

Madushanka continues

PAK 14/0 (3 Overs)

Theekshana continues

PAK 10/0 (2 Overs)

Dilshan Madushanka to bowl from the other end

PAK 6/0 (1 Over)

Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq come out to open for Pakistan. Maheesh Theekshana to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs SRI LANKA (2nd Innings)

HYDERABAD: Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama scored magnificent centuries to help Sri Lanka post a mammoth 344/9 against Pakistan in the eighth match of the ICC World Cup 2023.

SL 344/9 (50 Overs)

Haris bowls the final over

SL 343/7 (49 Overs)

Shaheen bowls his last

SL 335/7 (48 Overs)

Hasan continues

SL 331/6 (47 Overs)

Shaheen comes back

SL 321/5 (46 Overs)

Hasan returns

SL 315/5 (45 Overs)

Haris continues

SL 309/5 (44 Overs)

Nawaz again

SL 298/5 (43 Overs)

Haris Rauf returns to the attack

SL 296/5 (42 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz continues

SL 294/4 (41 Overs)

Hasan Ali returns to attack

SL 283/4 (40 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz returns

SL 273/4 (39 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi continues

SL 270/4 (38 Overs)

Shadab Khan continues

SL 262/4 (37 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi returns to the attack

SL 255/4 (36 Overs)

Shadab Khan continues

SL 247/4 (35 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues

SL 244/4 (34 Overs)

Shadab Khan continues

SL 239/4 (33 Overs)

Haris Rauf returns to the attack

SL 232/4 (32 Overs)

Shadab Khan returns

SL 230/4 (31 Overs)

30.1: Asalanka plays the ball away from the body with an angled bat and gets a thick edge to the keeper

Hasan Ali continues

SL 229/3 (30 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed continues

SL 218/3 (29 Overs)

28.5: Mendis holes out at the edge of the midwicket boundary and Imam clings onto the catch in the deep

Hasan Ali continues

SL 204/2 (28 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed continues

SL 199/2 (27 Overs)

Hasan Ali returns

SL 186/2 (26 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed continues

SL 181/2 (25 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi returns to the attack

SL 167/2 (24 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed comes onto the bowl

SL 166/2 (23 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz returns to bowl

SL 154/2 (22 Overs)

Shadab Khan continues

SL 147/2 (21 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues to bowl

SL 127/2 (20 Overs)

Shadab Khan continues

SL 115/2 (19 Overs)

Haris Rauf replaces Mohammad Nawaz

SL 112/2 (18 Overs)

17.2: Nissanka slashes it to the point and it goes straight into the lap of Shafique

Shadab Khan continues from the other end

SL 107/1 (17 Overs)

Nawaz continues

SL 98/1 (16 Overs)

Shadab Khan comes into the attack

SL 90/1 (15 Overs)

Nawaz continues

SL 88/1 (14 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues to bowl

SL 79/1 (13 Overs)

Nawaz continues

SL 73/1 (12 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues to bowl

SL 65/1 (11 Overs)

Nawaz continues

SL 58/1 (10 Overs)

Haris Rauf comes into the attack

SL 53/1 (9 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz replaces Shaheen Afridi

SL 48/1 (8 Overs)

Hasan Ali continues

SL 37/1 (7 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi continues

SL 34/1 (6 Overs)

Hasan Ali continues to bowl

SL 29/1 (5 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi continues

SL 19/1 (4 Overs)

Hasan Ali continues to bowl

SL 14/1 (3 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi continues

SL 6/1 (2 Overs)

1.4: Perera looks to flay this over point but there’s a bit of extra bounce that induces the edge as the keeper completes a regulation take

Hasan Ali to bowl from the other end

SL 4/0 (1 Over)

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera come out to open the innings. Shaheen Afridi to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs SRI LANKA (1st INNINGS)

HYDERABAD: Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to Bat first against Pakistan in the eighth match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 156, Pakistan 92, Sri Lanka 59, NR 4, Tie 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 8, Pakistan 7, Sri Lanka 0, NR 1

READ: Shubman Gill to miss second ICC World Cup 2023 match with dengue fever

HYDERABAD: Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to Bat first against Pakistan in the eighth match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 156, Pakistan 92, Sri Lanka 59, NR 4, Tie 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 8, Pakistan 7, Sri Lanka 0, NR 1

READ: Sri Lanka may get a boost ahead of ICC World Cup 2023 clash against Pakistan

DHARAMSALA: Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to field first against England in the seventh match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association [HPCA] Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

England

Jos Buttler (c)(wk), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Bangladesh

Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 24, Bangladesh 5, England 19

ODI World Cup: Matches 4, Bangladesh 2, England 2

READ: Sri Lanka may get a boost ahead of ICC World Cup 2023 clash against Pakistan

India batsman Shubman Gill has not recovered from dengue fever and will miss his team’s second ICC World Cup 2023 match against Afghanistan, officials said Monday.

Gill sat out the hosts’ six-wicket victory against Australia in Chennai on Sunday and will stay back in the southern Indian city “under the supervision of the medical team”.

“Team India batter Shubman Gill will not be travelling with the team to Delhi on 9th October 2023,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.

Rohit Sharma’s India will face Afghanistan at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.

The team will then leave for Ahmedabad for the hotly-anticipated fixture against arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul then scored anchoring half-centuries in a tense run-chase to guide India to a six-wicket victory over Australia in their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign opener.

The hosts had a dismal start to their pursuit as they lost three batters with just two runs on the board as Shubman Gill’s replacement Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer all fell for a duck.

Kohli and Rahul soaked in the pressure and put India in command with a magnificent 165-run partnership which lasted when Kohli fired his pull shot straight to Marnus Labuschagne at mid-wicket in the 38th over.

Star batter Virat Kohli fell short of his well-deserved century as he scored 85. His 116-ball knock featured six boundaries.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul held his ground firm and carried his bat all the way through to guide India to a hard-fought victory to launch their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign with a victory.

He also fell just shy of his century, scoring an unbeaten 97 in 115 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries and two sixes.

Josh Hazlewood led the bowling attack for Australia with 3/38 in his nine overs while Mitchell Starck had a wicket to his name.

READ: Sri Lanka may get a boost ahead of ICC World Cup 2023 clash against Pakistan