SYDNEY: A series of World Cup warm-ups were announced on Tuesday with Pakistan facing Bangladesh and England, South Africa taking on Sri Lanka and New Zealand, and Australia against reigning champions India in series of matches before the big event.

A total of 14 games will be played at Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Christchurch from February 8-13 ahead of the tournament proper, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, starting on February 14.

The matches are not official one-dayers and will operate under slightly different rules, with up to 15 players able to be used but no more than 11 players at any one time.

“The public will be welcome to attend warm-up matches which will be ticketed but free of charge,” said the International Cricket Council.

Warm-up schedule: February 8: India v Australia at Adelaide

February 9: South Africa v Sri Lanka at Christchurch; New Zealand v Zimbabwe at Christchurch; England v West Indies at Sydney, Pakistan v Bangladesh at Sydney

February 10: Ireland v Scotland at Sydney; India v Afghanistan at Adelaide

February 11: New Zealand v South Africa at Christchurch; Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Christchurch; Australia v UAE at Melbourne; England v Pakistan at Sydney

February 12: West Indies v Scotland at Sydney, Ireland v Bangladesh at Sydney

February 13: Afghanistan v UAE at Sydney

Opinion

Editorial

Exit strategy
Updated 18 Mar, 2026

Exit strategy

MOST members of the international community, particularly states in the greater Middle East, are gravely concerned...
Unsafe trains
18 Mar, 2026

Unsafe trains

SUNDAY’S accident involving the Shalimar Express has once again brought into sharp focus the deep structural and...
Disappointment in Dhaka
18 Mar, 2026

Disappointment in Dhaka

FOR a side looking for lift-off after a disappointing T20 World Cup, it was despair for Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ...
Missing in action
17 Mar, 2026

Missing in action

NOT exactly known for playing a proactive role in protecting the interests of Muslim nations and populations...
Risk to stability
Updated 17 Mar, 2026

Risk to stability

THE risks to Pakistan’s fragile economic recovery from the US-Israel war on Iran cannot be dismissed. Yet the...
Enrolment push
17 Mar, 2026

Enrolment push

THE federal government has embarked upon the welcome initiative to enrol 25,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad...