Thiruvananthapuram: The anticipation for the upcoming ODI World Cup has reached fever pitch as warm-up matches commenced today at three venues, including the prestigious Kariavattom Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
In one of the standout fixtures, New Zealand, the current runners-up, will clash with Pakistan in Hyderabad; spectators will not be allowed in the Pakistan-New Zealand match due to security concerns. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will engage in a battle at Guwahati, and South Africa will face Afghanistan at the iconic Kariavattom Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. India’s match against Netherlands will also commence in the same venue on 3rd October.
Notably, South Africa will be without their captain, Temba Bavuma, who has returned home for personal reasons. Bavuma is expected to rejoin the team ahead of the ODI World Cup, maintaining hopes for his leadership in the tournament.
Despite the cricketing fervour, there is a looming threat of rain in the state capital, with widespread rainfall reported over the past two days. The Meteorological Centre predicts continued rain in the coming days, adding an element of unpredictability to the matches.
The cricketing action is set to intensify as India, the host nation, gears up for its first warm-up match against the reigning world champions, England, in Guwahati tomorrow. A total of ten warm-up matches are scheduled across the three venues, providing teams with crucial practice sessions ahead of the main event.
For fans eager to catch the live action, the matches will be telecasted on the Star Sports Network, with coverage beginning at 2:00 PM. The broadcast will be available on Star Sports 2, HD 2, Star Sports One, and HD 1 channels.
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