England and South Africa to open ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Two years after losing the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 to Pakistan, India will get a chance to exact revenge on their neighbours when the two teams meet in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 on June 26 at Old Trafford.

With no bilateral ties currently scheduled between the two sides, the two nations only meet in ICC events and the marquee cash is bound to garner maximum attention.

That will come some time into the tournament, though, with hosts England playing South Africa on 30 May to kickstart proceedings.

Defending champions Australia will start their campaign against Afghanistan, winners of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 in Zimbabwe earlier this year, on 2 June in Bristol.

India, one of the two losing semi-finalists of the 2015 edition, start their campaign against South Africa on 5 June in Southampton.

The 12th men's World Cup will be staged in the United Kingdom for the fifth time, with 48 matches in 46 days played across 11 venues in England and Wales: Lord's, The Oval, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, Headingley, Old Trafford, County Ground Taunton, Bristol County Ground, The Riverside Durham, Hampshire Bowl and Cardiff Wales Stadium. All the day matches will start at 10:30am BST, while the day/night matches - seven of them - will start at 1:30pm BST.

Lord's will host the final of the World Cup for the fifth time on 14 July. The first semi-final (No.1 v No.4) will be at Old Trafford on 9 July while the second semi-final (No.2 v No.3) will be staged at Edgbaston on 11 July. Each of the semi-finals and the final has been allotted a reserve day.

The 10-team tournament will see all teams face one another once in a single group phase. The four teams that top the league stage will then face off in the two semi-finals.

While the top eight teams qualified for the tournament on the basis of their rankings, the Windies and Afghanistan qualified by virtue of topping the qualifiers.

“It’s always an exciting moment ahead of any major event to announce the schedule and for the ICC Cricket World Cup," said ICC chief executive David Richardson. "Next summer fans around the world will be treated to compelling and competitive cricket as the best teams in the world go head to head in this round-robin format for the right to be crowned World Champions.

“This schedule also gives fans across England and Wales the opportunity to watch world-class cricket on their doorstep with all teams moving around the country. We know from previous ICC events that every country will be proudly supported at each of the venues creating an exceptional atmosphere and a real celebration of the game.”

Ticket prices offered are as follows:

• 80,000+ tickets at £20 (over half of the group stage matches)
• 200,000+ tickets at £50 or less
• Child tickets at every match, starting from £6
• Family of 4 for £52

Fans will have the opportunity to be the first to apply for tickets during the Cricket Family Ballot, which opens at 10AM on Tuesday 8 May. Members of the Cricket Family can pre-register their accounts from Tuesday 1 May in preparation for the ballot, which will remain open until 8pm on Friday 1 June.

Those eligible for the Cricket Family Ballot will receive a specific URL via email in the coming few days. Ticket prices for each ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 fixture can be found here. Details about Hospitality packages will be released later this summer on cricketworldcup.com

Register to be part of the Cricket Family Ballot by signing up here ahead of 8 May.