The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 stage is set as all 10 captains gathered at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad on October 4 on the eve of the biggest Cricket World Cup ever.
48 matches will take place at 10 world class venues over 45 days.
The 10 captains also shared their thoughts and hopes for the next six weeks with host Ravi Shastri and England winning captain Eoin Morgan in an interactive panel session.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said: “I don't think there's too many events around the world where you feel like half the world's tuning in to watch and whenever India play Pakistan in a World Cup. It seems like one of those moments. So, although you're personally not involved, you feel like you want to watch it and hear about all the commentary and the passion around the game. So, it's going to be great that it's at this stadium. You can have over 100,000 people.”
India captain Rohit Sharma said: “I have said it from the start, you know, every leader sitting here wants to achieve something really special for their country. It is something that is very highly prized; the 50-Over World Cup is something that I have always dreamt of growing up as a child, and I am sure it is the same for all the guys sitting here as well. One thing I can assure, which I am pretty sure everyone knows, is that people are going to love this tournament here; the stadium is going to be jam-packed because people here in India love their cricket as much as they love their team, but they love their cricket as well. But rest assured, it’s going to be a great tournament.”
Pakistan captain Babar Azam said: “We received good hospitality, and we were not expecting this, but I think the way people responded to us, everyone enjoyed it. We are here for a week in Hyderabad, so we do not feel like we are in India; it was like we are at home. We enjoyed and had a lot of fun. It’s good, and I think it's a golden opportunity for everyone to give 100% and enjoy the tournament.”
England captain Jos Buttler said: “The team’s been mainly together for a long time since 2015, since the start of that sort of revolution that you mentioned, and I think you said right through the game. Now in England, young players coming through play a certain way and are determined to carry on the style, and I think we know it gives us the best chance of success. We will get it wrong at times, but we’ve made peace with that, and it’s something we want to continue to strive to do, to keep pushing the boundaries. Other teams will push you and move it on further, so we always want to try and be at the head of that curve as well.”
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said: “As said before, we will have more crowd and more support, we are expecting the same that the people will come there and support us in the stadium. And we have very good quality spinners and the condition is suitable for us and that will be with us and also with the batting. I believe in this World Cup we will give a statement about the batting that we can do very good, play very good cricket.”
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said: “I think we have prepared well. If we talk about the last four years since the 2019 World Cup, we are probably the third or fourth team in the qualifiers' point system. So, we have done really well as a group; now it's time for us to put on a good show. Our team is ready, and the country is expecting a little more than what we did previously.”
Netherlands captain Scott Edwards said: “I think all games in this tournament are going to be tricky. But obviously Pakistan's a very good side. But, yeah, for us, we're just excited to get this tournament going. That's against Pakistan in Hyderabad.”
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said: “I think that’s something that is relevant to all the teams. A lot of the teams have guys who played in India, have done well in India, so I wouldn’t really say it's an advantage for us. I think all we could do is for the guys who have that experience and knowledge; they can share it among the team or use it in terms of our strategies and plans. But I wouldn’t really say it's an advantage unique to us as a team.”
Sri Lanka squad Dasun Shanaka said: “See, exciting times for us. We have been struggling a lot in the recent past with injuries, but at the same time, we have some good records with us. You know, as a group, we are looking forward to the World Cup. Everyone wants to make a statement, that we are here to perform well in this tournament.”
Cricket World Cup 2023 | All the action
NEWS & OPINION
Bavuma’s Proteas must emerge battle-hardened
Though the battle-scarred Proteas failed in their mission to win an elusive first World Cup, they were able to return ...
Head stars as Australia are champions of the world, despair for hosts India
Having started the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup with back-to-back defeats, Australia will leave the tournament carrying ...
Walter backs Bavuma as Proteas return from unsuccessful World Cup
Proteas coach Rob Walter has given his unequivocal backing for Temba Bavuma, even though it is not clear whether the ...
‘I would never consider stepping down in a semifinal’: Bavuma, as Proteas ...
The idea of stepping down for the World Cup semifinal against Australia did not cross the mind of Proteas ODI captain ...
Cummins banishes captaincy queries with World Cup heroics for Aussies
Pat Cummins may be undecided about his future as Australia's ODI captain after the World Cup but few of his compatriots ...
Proteas' Miller weighs up whether to continue until 2027 World Cup
David Miller was unsure whether a home World Cup in 2027 would be on his agenda following his second painful loss in a ...
Australia pick up the pace before showdown with India in World Cup final
Australia head into their World Cup decider against India with all pieces in place after a devastating return to form ...
More pain for Temba Bavuma after another Proteas World Cup exit
Temba Bavuma and Rob Walter shared a warm embrace moments after South Africa was eliminated from the 2023 World Cup by ...
‘Absolutely gutting,’ says Walter, and no-one can say Proteas didn’t want ...
“Absolutely gutting,” was how Rob Walter described Thursday night’s three-wicket semifinal defeat to Australia.
More heartbreak for Proteas as Australia crush World Cup dreams
There is no solace in defeat. South Africa didn’t stop trying here in Kolkata, but they just never had enough of their ...
Bavuma wins toss, Proteas bat as rain hovers over Eden Gardens for semi
Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bat in South Africa's World Cup semifinal against Australia at Eden Gardens in ...
Kohli’s record ton, Shami’s superb seven power India to World Cup final
India's Virat Kohli struck a record 50th hundred and fast bowler Mohammed Shami's seven-wicket haul proved equally ...
Barefoot Bavuma seeks to start Proteas legacy that Australia have long ...
One semifinal, two captains. One knows a legacy in which success is a given. The other is trying to give the sport in ...
Coetzee and Jansen the future, but also the present, for the Proteas
Marco Jansen admits nerves get the better of him, he tends to overthink things. He needs Netflix or a sermon to calm ...
Bavuma not 100% fit, but confident he will play in Proteas-Oz semifinal
While the hamstring strain he picked up last Friday against Afghanistan has still not healed completely, Temba Bavuma ...
SA keen to shed choker’s tag against powerhouse Australia
SA sense an opportunity to finally get rid of the choker’s tag but the onerous task entails getting the better of the ...
Bavuma improving, but will Proteas consider changing bowling unit for semi?
A forecast for rain, the captain’s hamstring, Australia — South Africa and Cricket World Cup semifinals, it’s never ...
Bavuma showing ‘good objective signs of recovery’, says Proteas management
While hardly David Beckham’s metatarsal, news that Temba Bavuma’s hamstring strain is showing signs of improvement will ...
Southern hemisphere bucks predictions in Indian World Cup
It was the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Virender Sehwag who confidently predicted before the World Cup that it ...
Iyer and Rahul tons help India to thump Netherlands at World Cup
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul hit hundreds as World Cup hosts India geared up for the semifinals with a crushing 160-run ...
Will Phehlukwayo get a game against Afghanistan?
All attention on Afghanistan then, well, sort of.
New Zealand crush Sri Lanka, put one foot in World Cup semis
New Zealand returned to winning ways at the World Cup after a four-match slump as they defeated Sri Lanka by five ...
Hazlewood expects Maxwell to face Bangladesh after Miracle of Mumbai
Paceman Josh Hazlewood expects Glenn Maxwell to face Bangladesh in Australia's final round-robin match at the World Cup ...
Yes, it’s South Africa and Australia in a Cricket World Cup semifinal again
Australia, yup, them again in a World Cup semifinal.
'We won't over analyse on bad performance,' says Proteas bowling coach ...
Having removed themselves geographically and emotionally from the outcome in Kolkata, the Proteas believe more good ...
PROTEAS WORLD CUP TEAM
ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP TEAM CAPTAINS
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 stage is set as all 10 captains gathered at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad on October 4 on the eve of the biggest Cricket World Cup ever.
48 matches will take place at 10 world class venues over 45 days.
The 10 captains also shared their thoughts and hopes for the next six weeks with host Ravi Shastri and England winning captain Eoin Morgan in an interactive panel session.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said: “I don't think there's too many events around the world where you feel like half the world's tuning in to watch and whenever India play Pakistan in a World Cup. It seems like one of those moments. So, although you're personally not involved, you feel like you want to watch it and hear about all the commentary and the passion around the game. So, it's going to be great that it's at this stadium. You can have over 100,000 people.”
India captain Rohit Sharma said: “I have said it from the start, you know, every leader sitting here wants to achieve something really special for their country. It is something that is very highly prized; the 50-Over World Cup is something that I have always dreamt of growing up as a child, and I am sure it is the same for all the guys sitting here as well. One thing I can assure, which I am pretty sure everyone knows, is that people are going to love this tournament here; the stadium is going to be jam-packed because people here in India love their cricket as much as they love their team, but they love their cricket as well. But rest assured, it’s going to be a great tournament.”
Pakistan captain Babar Azam said: “We received good hospitality, and we were not expecting this, but I think the way people responded to us, everyone enjoyed it. We are here for a week in Hyderabad, so we do not feel like we are in India; it was like we are at home. We enjoyed and had a lot of fun. It’s good, and I think it's a golden opportunity for everyone to give 100% and enjoy the tournament.”
England captain Jos Buttler said: “The team’s been mainly together for a long time since 2015, since the start of that sort of revolution that you mentioned, and I think you said right through the game. Now in England, young players coming through play a certain way and are determined to carry on the style, and I think we know it gives us the best chance of success. We will get it wrong at times, but we’ve made peace with that, and it’s something we want to continue to strive to do, to keep pushing the boundaries. Other teams will push you and move it on further, so we always want to try and be at the head of that curve as well.”
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said: “As said before, we will have more crowd and more support, we are expecting the same that the people will come there and support us in the stadium. And we have very good quality spinners and the condition is suitable for us and that will be with us and also with the batting. I believe in this World Cup we will give a statement about the batting that we can do very good, play very good cricket.”
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said: “I think we have prepared well. If we talk about the last four years since the 2019 World Cup, we are probably the third or fourth team in the qualifiers' point system. So, we have done really well as a group; now it's time for us to put on a good show. Our team is ready, and the country is expecting a little more than what we did previously.”
Netherlands captain Scott Edwards said: “I think all games in this tournament are going to be tricky. But obviously Pakistan's a very good side. But, yeah, for us, we're just excited to get this tournament going. That's against Pakistan in Hyderabad.”
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said: “I think that’s something that is relevant to all the teams. A lot of the teams have guys who played in India, have done well in India, so I wouldn’t really say it's an advantage for us. I think all we could do is for the guys who have that experience and knowledge; they can share it among the team or use it in terms of our strategies and plans. But I wouldn’t really say it's an advantage unique to us as a team.”
Sri Lanka squad Dasun Shanaka said: “See, exciting times for us. We have been struggling a lot in the recent past with injuries, but at the same time, we have some good records with us. You know, as a group, we are looking forward to the World Cup. Everyone wants to make a statement, that we are here to perform well in this tournament.”
MEET THE TEAMS
TEAM FIXTURES
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.