World Cup 2023 guide: All you need to know; format, venues, reserve days, COVID rules, and more

Cricket’s biggest tournament – ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 or the ICC ODI World Cup opens in Ahmedabad today (October 5) with last edition’s finalists England and New Zealand facing off at the 1.32-lakh capacity Narendra Modi Stadium. (Also read: All 10 squads for ICC World Cup 2023)

Also read: World Cup 2023 broadcasters' list

Also read: World Cup 2023 full schedule, team-wise fixtures with match times

Here is your complete guide to the ICC World Cup 2023. Know about the format, previous winners, prize money, reserve days, COVID-19 rules, venues, and more.

ICC World Cup dates

The 13th edition of the tournament will be played in India from October 5 to November 19. This is the fourth time India is hosting the 50-over World Cup, the previous ones being in 1987 (Hosted by India and Pakistan), 1996 (Hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) and 2011 (Hosted by India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh). However, this is the first time that India will host all World Cup matches without any co-hosts.

Also read: World Cup 2023 commentators' list

When is India’s first match?

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team opens World Cup 2023 campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai. The match starts at 2 PM.

When is India vs Pakistan?

The blockbuster World Cup game between India and Pakistan is on October 14 (Saturday) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match starts at 2 PM.

Number of teams, days, matches

The ICC World Cup 2023 will see 10 teams with 48 matches being played over 46 days.

ICC World Cup venues

Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium; Capacity: 132,000)

Bengaluru (M Chinnaswamy Stadium; 40,000)

Chennai (MA Chidambaram Stadium; 38,000)

Delhi (Arun Jaitley Stadium; 55,000)

Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium; 23,000)

Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium; 55,000)

Kolkata (Eden Gardens; 66,000)

Lucknow (Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium)

Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium; 33,000)

Pune (Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium; 37,000)

Also read: World Cup 2023 match officials list

ICC World Cup format

Just like the previous editions, ICC World Cup 2023 too will see a round-robin format with each team playing the other once. So, a team gets to play nine matches. At the end of the league phase, the top four will qualify for the semi-finals.

Also read: World Cup 2023 venue-wise schedule

Teams and seedings

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will be contested by the following 10 teams which have been seeded as follows:

1. New Zealand

2. England

3. Bangladesh

4. Australia

5. Afghanistan

6. India

7. Pakistan

8. South Africa

9. Sri Lanka

10. Netherlands

Semi-final format and what if India qualify?

Following the league stage, the top four teams in the table will progress

to the Semi-Finals as follows:

Semi-Final – 1st v 4th

Semi-Final – 2nd v 3rd

Note: If India qualify for a semi-final, the match will be played in Mumbai, unless India play Pakistan in a semi-final, in which case the match will be played in Kolkata.

Points System

Win: 2; Tie, No Result or Abandoned: 1; Loss: 0

Semi-final spots if teams are equal on points

In the event of teams finishing on equal points in the league stage, the ordering of teams will be decided in the following order of priority:

– The team with the greatest number of wins in the league matches will be placed in the higher position.

– If there are teams with equal points and equal wins in the league matches, then in such case the teams will be ordered according to their net run rate (NRR) in the league matches.

– If two or more teams are still equal, they will be ordered according to the result of the head-to-head match played between them (points, then if still equal, NRR in those matches).

– If the above does not resolve the league ordering, or if all matches within the league stage produce no results, the teams will be ordered as per their league seedings.

What happens if a semi-final is tied or no result?

– If a Semi-Final is tied, the teams shall compete in a Super Over to determine which team progresses to the Final.

– If following a tie, weather conditions prevent the Super Over from being completed, or if the match is abandoned or a no result at the end of the reserve day, then the team which proceeds to the Final will be the team that finished in the higher position in the league stage.

What if final is tied or no result?

– In the event of a tied Final, the teams shall compete in a Super Over to determine which team is the winner.

– If following a tie, weather conditions prevent the Super Over from being completed, or if the match is abandoned or a no result at the end of the reserve day, the teams shall be declared joint winners.

Rules for COVID-19 interruptions at ICC World Cup 2023

If a match is unable to be played as scheduled or is abandoned on the day of the match because of COVID-19, or if a team is unable to field 11 participating players, the Event Technical Committee will convene with the objective of finding a way for a new match (including a new nomination of teams and toss) to be played. Such a match may be played at the same venue, or be moved to another venue, to be played on the same date at the discretion of the Event Technical Committee. The rescheduled match shall be played, if possible, subject to it being scheduled within reason and without unreasonably impacting on the participating teams or on the staging of other matches, according to the World Cup playing conditions.

If during the course of the relevant match, a player tests positive for COVID-19, a COVID-19 Replacement will be permitted. A player who has tested positive for COVID-19 will rejoin the squad as a playing participant following the completion of the isolation period, without the need for any further COVID-19 testing. Any replacement player added to the squad during the COVID-19 player’s period of isolation will be removed from the squad. The isolation period is 7 days.

Hours of Play

There shall be 2 sessions of 3.5 hours each, separated by a 30-minute interval between innings.

Day Match:

First Session: 10:30 AM – 2 PM

Interval: 2 PM – 2:30 PM

Second Session: 2:30 PM – 6 PM

Day Night Match:

First Session: 2 PM – 5:30 PM

Interval: 5:30 PM – 6 PM

Second Session: 6 PM – 9:30 PM

Reserve Days

The Semi-Finals and Final of the ICC World Cup 2023 will have a reserve day allocated on which an incomplete match shall be continued from the scheduled day. No other matches shall have a reserve day allocated.

Over-Rate Penalties

The fielding side shall be in a position to bowl the first ball of the final over of the innings by the scheduled (or re-scheduled) cessation time for the innings failing which no more than 4 fielders shall be permitted outside the fielding restriction area (30-yard circle).

Super Overs for a Tie or No Result

The result of a match shall be a tie when both innings have been completed and the scores are equal. For all matches throughout the event, if the match is tied a Super Over is played. If the Super Over is a tie, then subsequent Super Overs shall be played until there is a winner. Unless exceptional circumstances arise, there shall be an unlimited number of Super Overs played to achieve a result.

Number of Player Review requests permitted (DRS)

In each innings, each team shall be allowed to make a maximum of two Player Review requests that are categorised as ‘Unsuccessful.

Where a request for a Player Review results in the original on-field decision being reversed, then the Player Review shall be categorised as ‘Successful’ and shall not count towards the innings limit.

Where a request for a Player Review results in the original on-field decision remaining unchanged, the Player Review shall be categorised as ‘Unsuccessful’.

ICC WorldCup 2023 Prize money

Total: $10m

Winners: $4m

Runners-up: $2m

Semi-finalists: $800,000

Teams finishing at the group stage: $100,000

Each group stage win: $40,000

Previous World Cup winners

2019: England

2015: Australia

2011: India

2007: Australia

2003: Australia

1999: Australia

1996: Sri Lanka

1992: Pakistan

1987: Australia

1983: India

1979: West Indies

1975: West Indies