New Zealand will face West Indies in Cricket World Cup 2022 opener; India to start their campaign with clash against Pakistan

World Cup 2022 on March 4 in a day-night fixture at Tauranga’s Bay Oval to kick off tournament, ICC announced as they revealed the full schedule for the global event on Wednesday (December 15). Two days later on March 6 India will face their arch rivals Pakistan in their first match to start their campaign.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2022 schedule © Women's CricZone

At the end of the ICC ODI Championship cycle between 2018-2021 four teams – Australia, India, England and South Africa - along with New Zealand automatically qualified for the global event. Rest of the three teams were to be decided from ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier that was played in Zimbabwe in November. When the Qualifier was called off due to the new COVID-19 variant and the travel restrictions came with it, ICC announced Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies will join the other five sides based on their team rankings to complete the line-up.


With these sides taking up the three qualifying spots, the global cricket governing body announced the full schedule for the tournament. A total of 31 matches, including 17 day-night matches, will be played across six venues in Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin during the 31-day event.

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The final will be played on April 3 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Hagley Oval will also host the second semi-final with Basin Reserve in Wellington scheduled to host the first semi-final.

“What better way to launch CWC22 than with a full house under lights at the Bay Oval watching White Ferns against the West Indies? It’s going to be a great day out, with some amazing opening celebrations planned before our White Fern stars, including Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr, take on the West Indies and some greats of the game like Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin,” Andrea Nelson, Cricket World Cup 2022 CEO, said.

Schedule:

Mar 4, 2022 – New Zealand v West Indies

Mar 5, 2022 – Bangladesh v South Africa

Mar 5, 2022 – Australia v England

Mar 6, 2022 – Pakistan v India

Mar 7, 2022 – New Zealand v Bangladesh

Mar 8, 2022 – Australia v Pakistan

Mar 9, 2022 – West Indies v England

Mar 10, 2022 – New Zealand v India

Mar 11, 2022 – Pakistan v South Africa

Mar 12, 2022 – West Indies v India

Mar 13, 2022 – New Zealand v Australia

Mar 14, 2022 – Pakistan v Bangladesh

Mar 14, 2022 – South Africa v England

Mar 15, 2022 – Australia v West Indies

Mar 16, 2022 – England v India

Mar 17, 2022 – New Zealand v South Africa

Mar 18, 2022 – Bangladesh v West Indies

Mar 19, 2022 – India v Australia

Mar 20, 2022 – New Zealand v England

Mar 21, 2022 – West Indies v Pakistan

Mar 22, 2022 – South Africa v Australia

Mar 22, 2022 – India v Bangladesh

Mar 24, 2022 – South Africa v West Indies

Mar 24, 2022 – England v Pakistan

Mar 25, 2022 – Bangladesh v Australia

Mar 26, 2022 – New Zealand v Pakistan

Mar 27, 2022 – England v Bangladesh

Mar 27, 2022 – India v South Africa

Mar 30, 2022 – Semi-Final 1

Mar 31, 2022 – Semi-Final 2

Apr 3, 2022 – FINAL