(Image source from: India to clash with Pakistan on the first day of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015})

What is being deemed as an electrifying start to the next world cup, reigning world champion India will take on their favorite arch rival Pakistan on the opening day of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. The Cricket World Cup, to be held between February 14 and March 29, will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

India have been banded together with teams liked Ireland, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and a yet to be decided Qualifier 4.

India will meet Pakistan on February 14, play against South Africa on February 22, followed by Qualifier 4 in Perth on February 28, then against West Indies in Perth on March 6, followed by Ireland in Hamilton on March 10 and Zimbabwe on March 14.

Refreshing memories of India's big win at the 2011 World Cup, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, "It only seems like yesterday that we won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in front of a passionate and supportive home crowd. World Cup is a very special event for every cricketer because it only takes place every four years. Having tasted success in Mumbai in 2011, we'll be working very hard to retain it. I'm keenly looking forward to the tournament and confident that we'll do well. Our recent victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 has provided the team with a lot of confidence, and I am sure this experience will help us in our preparations for the World Cup in 2015."

Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have been rounded up with teams of England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Qualifier 2 and Qualifier 3.

A total of forty-nine matches will be played in 14 venues across the two countries. Australia will host 26 games across the cities of Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The final match will be held at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 29.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 match fixtures
Pools (based on teams' rankings on the Reliance ICC ODI Rankings as on 31 December 2012):
Pool A: England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Qualifier 2, Qualifier 3
Pool B: South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Qualifier 4

Fixtures:
Sat 14 Feb: Sri Lanka v New Zealand , Hagley Oval, Christchurch (d); England vs Australia, Melbourne Cricket Ground (d/n)

Sun 15 Feb: South Africa v Zimbabwe, Seddon Park, Hamilton (d/n); India v Pakistan, Adelaide Oval (d/n)

Mon 16 Feb: West Indies v Ireland, Saxton Oval, Nelson (d)

Tues 17 Feb: New Zealand v Qualifier 3, University Oval, Dunedin (d)

Wed 18 Feb: Bangladesh v Qualifier 2, Manuka Oval, Canberra (d/n)

Thurs 19 Feb: Zimbabwe v Qualifier 4, Saxton Oval, Nelson (d)

Fri 20 Feb: England v New Zealand, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington (d/n)

Sat 21 Feb: Pakistan v West Indies, Hagley Oval, Christchurch (d); Australia v Bangladesh, Gabba, Brisbane (d/n)

Sun 22 Feb: Sri Lanka v Qualifier 2, University Oval, Dunedin (d); South Africa v India, MCG, Melbourne (d/n)

Mon 23 Feb: England v Qualifier 3, Hagley Oval, Christchurch (d)

Tues 24 Feb: West Indies v Zimbabwe, Manuka Oval, Canberra (d/n)

Wed 25 Feb: Ireland v Qualifier 4, Gabba, Brisbane (d/n)

Thurs 26 Feb: Qualifier 2 v Qualifier 3, University Oval, Dunedin (d); Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, MCG, Melbourne (d/n)

Fri 27 Feb: South Africa v West Indies, SCG, Sydney (d/n)

Sat 28 Feb: India v Qualifier 4, WACA, Perth (d/n); Australia v New Zealand, Eden Park, Auckland (d/n)

Sun 1 Mar: England v Sri Lanka, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington (d); Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Gabba, Brisbane (d/n)

Mon 2 Mar: Rest day

Tues 3 Mar: South Africa v Ireland, Manuka Oval, Canberra (d/n)

Wed 4 Mar: Pakistan v Qualifier 4, McLean Park, Napier (d/n); Australia v Qualifier 2, WACA, Perth (d/n)

Thurs 5 Mar: Bangladesh v Qualifier 3, Saxton Oval, Nelson (d)

Fri 6 Mar: India v West Indies, WACA, Perth (d/n)

Sat 7 Mar: South Africa v Pakistan, Eden Park, Auckland (d/n); Zimbabwe v Ireland, Bellerive Oval, Hobart (d/n)

Sun 8 Mar: New Zealand v Qualifier 2, McLean Park, Napier (d); Australia v Sri Lanka, SCG, Sydney (d/n)

Mon 9 Mar: England v Bangladesh, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (d/n)

Tues 10 Mar: India v Ireland, Seddon Park, Hamilton (d/n)

Wed 11 Mar: Sri Lanka v Qualifier 3, Bellerive Oval, Hobart (d/n)

Thurs 12 Mar: South Africa v Qualifier 4, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington (d/n)

Fri 13 Mar: Bangladesh v New Zealand, Seddon Park, Hamilton (d/n); England v Qualifier 2, SCG, Sydney (d/n)

Sat 14 Mar: India v Zimbabwe, Eden Park, Auckland (d/n); Australia v Qualifier 3, Bellerive Oval, Hobart (d/n)

Sun 15 Mar: West Indies v Qualifier 4, McLean Park, Napier (d); Pakistan v Ireland, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (d/n)

Mon 16 Mar: Rest day

Tues 17 Mar: Rest day

Wed 18 Mar: First quarter-final, SCG, Sydney (d/n)

Thurs 19 Mar: Reserve day for first quarter-final; Second quarter-final, MCG (d/n)

Fri 20 Mar: Reserve day for second quarter-final; third quarter-final, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (d/n)

Sat 21 Mar: Reserve day for third quarter-final; fourth quarter-final, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington (d/n)

Sun 22 Mar: Reserve day for fourth quarter-final

Mon 23 Mar: Rest day

Tues 24 Mar: First semi-final, Eden Park, Auckland (d/n)

Wed 25 Mar: Reserve day for first semi-final

Thurs 26 Mar: Second semi-final, SCG, Sydney (d/n)

Fri 27 Mar: Reserve day for second semi-final

Sat 28 Mar: Rest day

Sun 29 Mar: Final, MCG, Melbourne (d/n)

Mon 30 Mar: Reserve day for final

*Quarter-final line-up: If Australia and New Zealand qualify, then they'll play their quarter-finals in their countries. As such, final line-up, venues and dates to be confirmed after group stage matches:
A1 v B4
A2 v B3
A3 v B2
A4 v B1

Semi-finals: If Australia and New Zealand meet in the semi-finals, then the side that finished higher in the group stage points table will stage the match.

News Source: IBN Live

AW: Suchorita Dutta