2019 ICC World Cup: India to Lock Horns Against Pakistan on June 16

The wait is over, as Team India will face-off arch-rivals Pakistan on June 16 at Old Trafford in Manchester during the 2019 ICC World Cup.

Meanwhile, the Indian team under the leadership of Virat Kohli will play their opening match of the overall 12th edition of the World Cup against South Africa on June 5.

Pertinently, the world cricket body ICC’s chief executives meeting in Kolkata, has chalked out the schedule.

Men in Blue have a great record against their nemesis Pakistan in the coveted World Cup tournament.

The Indian team hasn’t yet lost any contest against Pakistan as they have remained unbeaten. The much-awaited edition of the World Cup will be hosted from 30 May to July 14 in the UK.

India has an outstanding record against Pakistan in the World Cup history.

The final of the coveted tournament will be played on July 14 at the home of cricket, Lord’s.

Meanwhile, hosts England will play their opening game of the competition on May 30 against South Africa.

Also read: ICC World Cup: India to Take on South Africa in the Opener on June 4

Consequently, the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is highly-likely going to be preponed.

This is the first time that the India-Pakistan clash won’t be a starting fixture. We had noticed that India and Pakistan locked horns against each other in 2015 World Cup as well as the 2017 Champions Trophy in their respective openers.

“This is the first time an Indo-Pak match won’t be a starting affair. Since the format will be round-robin affair (all teams playing each other like 1992),” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

On Tuesday (April 24) reports suggested India will take on South Africa on June 4. But as per the latest developments, it is now clear that India will begin their World Cup campaign on June 5 at Southampton against the Proteas.

India had made it to the semi-final stage in the previous edition of the competition.

Thus, the Virat Kohli-led team will like to go two steps further in the upcoming 2019 ICC World Cup – to bring glory to the nation.

Quick read: Virender Sehwag Backs India to Win 2019 World Cup