New Delhi: Cricket fans across the globe are in good cheer as world cricket’s quadrennial extravaganza is just few days away. Before players and fans of the 14 participating nations switch to battle mode, they will jointly celebrate the spirit of cricket on Thursday during the much-anticipated opening ceremony of the 11th World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The two-act opening ceremony will be held at Christchurch in New Zealand and Melbourne in Australia between 2:00 and 5:00 pm IST. The New Zealand opening ceremony will be held at Christchurch’s North Hagley Park. The event is expected to be a celebration of not just the host nation, but also of its passion and love for cricket.
Three of New Zealand’s favourite cricketing sons Sir Richard Hadlee, Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum will make appearance during the ceremony. The free event, scheduled for a 6:30 pm local time, will feature a giant game of backyard cricket comprising local cricket teams, entertainers, and New Zealand’s cricket heroes.
The main event will commence at 9:00 pm local time with a cultural welcome produced in association with Ngai Tahu, one of the original settlers. A live stage show will follow that will feature a special video appearance by all-time greats from New Zealand sport as part of a celebration showcasing an unrivalled history.
Then, it will be time for ceremonial speeches and official opening of the tournament. This will be followed by a live musical show featuring Shapeshifter, a live drum and bass act, Sol3 Mio, Hayley Westenra and Ginny Blackmore.
The momentous event will be capped off with extravagant fireworks displays. The Melbourne opening ceremony will be held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Linlithgow Ave. The celebration will involve World Cup players and legends, cultural and music performances, and a stunning fireworks display.
Jessica Hilda Mauboy an Australian R&B and pop singer, Tina Arena, an Australian singer-songwriter, Nathaniel and Daryl Braithwaite, along with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with musical director, Chong Lim will treat the crowd with their musical performances.
Here’s all Schedule you need to know
| DATE & TIME | MATCH |
| Feb 14 (Saturday) 03:30 IST |
Match 1 , Pool A New Zealand VS Sri Lanka Hagley Oval |
| February 14 (Saturday) 09:00 IST |
Match 2 , Pool A Australia VS England Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| February 15 (Sunday) 06:30 IST |
Match 3 , Pool B South Africa VS Zimbabwe Seddon Park |
| February 15 (Sunday) 09:00 IST |
Match 4 , Pool B India VS Pakistan Adelaide Oval |
| February 16 (Monday) 03:30 IST |
Match 5 , Pool B Ireland VS West Indies Saxton Oval |
| February 18 (Wednesday) 03:30 IST |
Match 6 , Pool A New Zealand VS Scotland University Oval |
| February 18 (Wednesday) 09:00 IST |
Match 7 , Pool A Afghanistan VS Bangladesh Manuka Oval |
| February 19 (Thursday) 03:30 IST |
Match 8 , Pool B United Arab Emirates VS Zimbabwe Saxton Oval |
| February 20 (Friday) 06:30 IST |
Match 9 , Pool A New Zealand VS England Westpac Stadium |
| February 21 (Saturday) 03:30 IST |
Match 10 , Pool B Pakistan VS West Indies Hagley Oval |
| February 21 (Saturday) 09:00 IST |
Match 11 , Pool A Australia VS Bangladesh Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba |
| February 22 (Sunday) 03:30 IST |
Match 12 , Pool A Afghanistan VS Sri Lanka University Oval |
| February 22 (Sunday) 09:00 IST |
Match 13 , Pool B India VS South Africa Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| February 23 (Monday) 03:30 IST |
Match 14 , Pool A England VS Scotland Hagley Oval |
| February 24 (Tuesday) 09:00 IST |
Match 15 , Pool B West Indies VS Zimbabwe Manuka Oval |
| February 25 (Wednesday) 09:00 IST |
Match 16 , Pool B Ireland VS United Arab Emirates Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba |
| February 26 (Thursday) 03:30 IST |
Match 17 , Pool A Afghanistan VS Scotland University Oval |
| February 26 (Thursday) 09:00 IST |
Match 18 , Pool A Bangladesh VS Sri Lanka Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| February 27 (Friday) 09:00 IST |
Match 19 , Pool B South Africa VS West Indies Sydney Cricket Ground |
| February 28 (Saturday) 06:30 IST |
Match 20 , Pool A New Zealand VS Australia Eden Park |
| February 28 (Saturday) 12:00 IST |
Match 21 , Pool B India VS United Arab Emirates Western Australia Cricket Association Ground |
| March 1 (Sunday) 03:30 IST |
Match 22 , Pool A England VS Sri Lanka Westpac Stadium |
| March 1 (Sunday) 09:00 IST |
Match 23 , Pool B Pakistan VS Zimbabwe Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba |
| March 3 (Tuesday) 09:00 IST |
Match 24 , Pool B Ireland VS South Africa Manuka Oval |
| March 4 (Wednesday) 06:30 IST |
Match 25 , Pool B Pakistan VS United Arab Emirates McLean Park |
| March 4 (Wednesday) 12:00 IST |
Match 26 , Pool A Australia VS Afghanistan Western Australia Cricket Association Ground |
| March 5 (Thursday) 03:30 IST |
Match 27 , Pool A Bangladesh VS Scotland Saxton Oval |
| March 6 (Friday) 12:00 IST |
Match 28 , Pool B India VS West Indies Western Australia Cricket Association Ground |
| March 7 (Saturday) 06:30 IST |
Match 29 , Pool B Pakistan VS South Africa Eden Park |
| March 7 (Saturday) 09:00 IST |
Match 30 , Pool B Ireland VS Zimbabwe Bellerive Oval |
| March 8 (Sunday) 03:30 IST |
Match 31 , Pool A New Zealand VS Afghanistan McLean Park |
| March 8 (Sunday) 09:00 IST |
Match 32 , Pool A Australia VS Sri Lanka Sydney Cricket Ground |
| March 9 (Monday) 09:00 IST |
Match 33 , Pool A England VS Bangladesh Adelaide Oval |
| March 10 (Tuesday) 06:30 IST |
Match 34 , Pool B India VS Ireland Seddon Park |
| March 11 (Wednesday) 09:00 IST |
Match 35 , Pool A Scotland VS Sri Lanka Bellerive Oval |
| March 12 (Thursday) 06:30 IST |
Match 36 , Pool B South Africa VS United Arab Emirates Westpac Stadium |
| March 13 (Friday) 06:30 IST |
Match 37 , Pool A New Zealand VS Bangladesh Seddon Park |
| March 13 (Friday) 09:00 IST |
Match 38 , Pool A Afghanistan VS England Sydney Cricket Ground |
| March 14 (Saturday) 06:30 IST |
Match 39 , Pool B India VS Zimbabwe Eden Park |
| March 14 (Saturday) 09:00 IST |
Match 40 , Pool A Australia VS Scotland Bellerive Oval |
| March 15 (Sunday) 03:30 IST |
Match 41 , Pool B United Arab Emirates VS West Indies McLean Park |
| March 15 (Sunday) 09:00 IST |
Match 42 , Pool B Ireland VS Pakistan Adelaide Oval |
| March 18 (Wednesday) 09:00 IST |
Match 1st Quarter-Final TBC v TBC (A1) VS TBC (B4) Sydney Cricket Ground |
| March 19 (Thursday) 09:00 IST |
Match 2nd Quarter-Final TBC (A2) VS TBC (B3) Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| March 20 (Friday) 09:00 IST |
Match 3rd Quarter-Final TBC (A3) VS TBC (B2) Adelaide Oval |
| March 21 (Saturday) 06:30 IST |
Match 4th Quarter-Final TBC (A4) VS TBC (B1) Westpac Stadium |
| March 24 (Tuesday) 06:30 IST |
Match 1st Semi-Final TBC VS TBC Eden Park |
| March 26 (Thursday) 09:00 IST |
Match 2nd Semi-Final TBC VS TBC Sydney Cricket Ground |
| March 29 (Sunday) 09:00 IST |
Match Final TBC VS TBC Melbourne Cricket Ground |
Bureau Report
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