The MCG will host the final after a gap of 23 years, while the semifinals will be played in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and Auckland, analogous to the 1992 World Cup, which Imran Khan’s Pakistan lifted for the first and only time.
Australia and neighbours New Zealand, who hosted the biggest event in cricket for their first time in 1992, will be applying more or less the same formula when it comes to venues for the 2015 World Cup by handing the semifinals to the SCG and Eden Park, before the showcase final takes place at the ‘Spiritual Home of Australian Sport’ on March 29, 2015.
On the other hand, Christchurch, which witnessed a massive earthquake in 2011, leaving 185 people dead, will be hosting the opening match of the tournament between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on February 14 at Hagley Oval. It will be followed by Australia’s clash against England at the MCG.
Current World Cup champions India, who have been drawn into Pool B along with arch-rivals Pakistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, West Indies, Ireland and Qualifier 4 will be playing their first match against Pakistan in Adelaide on February 15. The remaining nations- England, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Qualifier 2 and Qualifier 3 have been clustered into Pool A.
Coming back to the MCG, several dignitaries in the likes of ICC chief executive Dave Richardson as well as veteran cricketers like Dennis Lillee, Ian Chappell, Kapil Dev, Sanath Jayasuriya, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Hussey were all in favour of the finals to be held at the 160-year old stadium.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Richardson was quoted as saying: “The ICC Cricket World Cup is the flagship tournament of the 50-over game. The 2015 tournament will mark 40 years since the first World Cup in 1975 and that history of great contests and heroes helps make the tournament what it is – the most sought after prize in our increasingly global game.”
“The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be returning to Australia and New Zealand after 23 years and will be staged at the back of two outstanding 50-over ICC events – the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013. I’m absolutely confident that the success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will further strengthen the status of 50-over cricket as a successful and viable format alongside Tests and Twenty20 Internationals,” he added.
The contest will showcase 49 matches over 44 days, spanning 14 cities in Australia and New Zealand through February and March of 2015. Apart from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Auckland and Christchurch, the matches will be played in Brisbane, Canberra, Dunedin, Napier, Nelson, Hamilton, Hobart, Perth and Wellington.
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