ICC releases 2019 Cricket World Cup schedule

LONDON: London’s Olympic Stadium will not stage any matches at next year’s 2019 Cricket World Cup in England and Wales. The International Cricket Council (ICC) released the full fixture schedule for its showpiece men’s one-day international tournament on Wednesday.

There had been speculation that the London Stadium, which has a capacity of some 60,000 — more than double that of Lord’s and nearly three times that of The Oval, London’s other established major international cricket venue — might be used as a World Cup venue in a bid to attract new audiences to the game.

But the ground, now known as the London Stadium and home to Premier League football club West Ham, has been ignored amid reports that the cost of converting into a ground for cricket — a sport it has yet to stage — was too expensive.

Tournament hosts England begin the 2019 World Cup against South Africa at The Oval on May 30. Meanwhile the showpiece first-round fixture between sub-continental rivals India and Pakistan is a day/night clash at Old Trafford on June 16.

Reigning champions Australia will launch their title defence on June 1 against qualifiers Afghanistan in a day/night match in Bristol.

In all, 11 venues will be used with all 10 teams in a slimmed-down World Cup involved in an all-play-all first round before the top four advance to the semi-finals.Edgbaston, in Birmingham, and Manchester’s Old Trafford will stage the semi-finals on July 9 and 11 respectively, with the final at Lord’s, the ‘home of cricket’ on July 14.

2019 World Cup schedule

Cardiff: Jun 01: NZ v SL (d)

Jun 04: Afg v SL (d)

Jun 08: Eng v BD (d)

Jun 15: SA v Afg (d/n)

Bristol: Jun 01: Afg v Aus (d/n)

Jun 07: Pak v SL (d)

Jun 11: BD v SL (d)

Taunton: Jun 08: Afg v NZ (d/n)

Jun 12: Aus v Pak (d)

Jun 17: WI v BD (d)

Southampton: Jun 05: SA v Ind (d)

Jun 10: SA v WI (d)

Jun 14: Eng v WI (d)

Jun 22: Ind v Afg (d)

Jun 24: BD v Afg (d)

Headingley, Leeds: Jun 21: Eng v SL (d)

Jun 29: Pak v Afg (d)

Jul 04: Afg v WI (d)

Jul 06: SL v Ind (d)

The Oval, London: May 30: Eng v SA (d)

Jun 02: SA v BD (d)

Jun 05: BD v NZ (d/n)

Jun 09: Ind v Aus (d)

Jun 15: SL v Aus (d)

Chester-le-Street: Jun 28: SL v SA (d)

Jul 01: SL v WI (d)

Jul 03: Eng v NZ (d)

Nottingham: May 31: WI v Pak (d)

Jun 03: Eng v Pak (d)

Jun 06: Aus v WI (d)

Jun 13: Ind v NZ (d)

Jun 20: Aus v BD (d)

Manchester: Jun 16: Ind v Pak (d)

Jun 18: Eng v Afg (d)

Jun 22: WI v NZ (d/n)

Jun 27: WI v Ind (d)

Jul 06: Aus v SA (d/n)

Jul 09: First semifinal (1 v 4) (d)

Jul 10: Reserve day

Birmingham: Jun 19: NZ v SA (d)

Jun 26: NZ v Pak (d)

Jun 30: Eng v Ind (d)

Jul 02: BD v Ind (d)

Jul 11: 2nd semifinal (2 v 3) (d)

Jul 12: Reserve day

Lord’s, London: Jun 23: Pak v SA (d)

Jun 25: Eng v Aus (d)

Jun 29: NZ v Aus (d/n)

Jul 05: Pak v BD (d/n)

Jul 14: Final (d)

Jul 15: Reserve day.