The 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, One Day International (ODI) tournament contested by men’s national teams and organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) will be hosted by India, beginning on Thursday 5 October and ending on Sunday 19 November 2023.
Ten teams will participate: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Initially, the national teams had to progress to the tournament via the 2023 Cricket World Cup qualification process, with the West Indies missing out for the first time in their history.
England are the defending champions, having won the 2019 tournament by defeating New Zealand in the final.
It will be the first men’s Cricket World Cup to be hosted solely by India, who with other countries in South Asia had co-hosted the event in 1987, 1996, and 2011.
The tournament will take place in ten different stadiums. The first and second semi-finals will be held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and Eden Gardens in Kolkata respectively, while the final will take place at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
People of South Asia are passionate lovers of the game of cricket providing great patronage for the game, watching it live in huge purpose-built stadiums or while glued to their TV sets.
While national cricket teams and their success are seen as symbols of national pride, sometimes and in some sections of the populations in these countries, bigotry against the opposing teams leads to passions of hatred and intolerance.
There exists a healthy rivalry between various pairs of cricket teams and their supporters namely between England vs Australia; Australia vs New Zealand and India vs Pakistan.
Mature patrons of cricket appreciate the talents and the performance of their chosen teams while at the same time appreciating that of their rivals.
Don Bradman, an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time was much loved by the international cricket fraternity.
Imran Khan, a great all rounder and captain of the Pakistan cricket team was widely respected and highly admired by cricket fans in India as well.
Sunil Gavaskar, an Indian batsman compared to The Don was universally admired throughout the world.
The current No. 1 Indian batsman Virat Kohli is highly respected on the field as well as off the field for his skilled performances as well as his cordial temperament, even in Pakistan.
However, the traders of bigotry sometimes displaying their small-mindedness and sometimes for vested interests create hatred and frenzy against rival teams on the basis of nationality and religious affiliation.
In the current climate of divisive politics in India and with the upcoming national elections next year, there is a possibility that bad-mouthing TV anchors may try to create a frenzy against Pakistan in particular and Muslims in general.
For this mob, it is a crime to cheer up your favourite sports team or sports star and if you do not comply with their brand of nationalistic jingoism, you can be deemed a traitor or even a terrorist in your own country.
It is hoped that cool minds will prevail during the next six weeks for the enjoyment of all cricket lovers in India itself and globally.
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