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