How to watch the CWC23 Qualifier
The Cricket World Cup Qualifier will see 10 teams compete for the two remaining spots in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup to be held in India later this year.
Every ball of the 34 CWC Qualifier ODIs to be played in Zimbabwe from June 18 to July 9 will be televised or live-streamed, starting with the hosts taking on Nepal, and West Indies against the USA the same day.
All 34 matches will be available to watch live for the first time in CWC Qualifier history, with 20 ODIs played at Harare Sports Club and the Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo produced to a broadcast specification.
The remaining 14 ODIs played at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare and Bulawayo Athletic Club will be produced to a live-stream specification.
ICC’s Global Broadcast Partner, Star Sports, will broadcast the TV games in the sub-continent, with Star Sports 1 televising the matches in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
The games will also be live-streamed in Indiavia Disney+Hotstar. In addition, Indian fans can also stream the games on FanCode.
In Nepal, followers can also stream the games on Net TV.
Group A at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 will feature West Indies, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Nepal and the USA as only three teams can progress
In Bangladesh, Gazi TV will broadcast select matches while all games can also be live-streamed via Rabbithole and Toffee.
For Sri Lanka, the games will be shared across TV1 and Sirasa TV channels, and digital coverage will be via Maharaja TV website.
In Pakistan, PTV Sports will air 20 games, while all 34 matches can also be viewed via the corresponding app.
In the Caribbean, televised matches can be accessed on ESPN and ESPN 2 and fixtures will be live-streamed on ESPN Play.
For the North American audience, Willow TV will broadcast 20 TV games. For live streaming, ESPN+ will be the option in the United States while Hotstar can be used in Canada.
In the UK, the 20 TV games will be broadcast by Sky Sports Cricket channel, with all matches available on the Sky Sports app. Continental Europe, including fans from the Netherlands, can live stream all the games via Yupp TV.
In Africa, Supersport will broadcast and stream the games for cricket fans. They will showcase the Qualifier across sub-Saharan Africa including South Africa, via their Grandstand and Cricket television channels and their digital app.
For Zimbabwe, Supersport will show the games on television and also stream the games via Supersport app.
Fans of teams like Oman and UAE in the Middle East, can cheer their sides while viewing the televised games on CricLife and CricLife Max. The live streamed matches will be available on StarzPlay, Switch TV and Du platforms in this region.
ICC Digital platforms will provide the short form highlights. This will be available through the ICC Website and the official social media channels on Instagram and Facebook. BBC Sport will provide short-form content in the UK & Ireland.
Global audio coverage will be made available via Digital 2 Sports on YouTube.
An impressive commentary team has been constituted for the event. It will feature Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Ian Bishop, Natalie Germanos, Andy Flower, Ashwell Prince, Carlos Brathwaite, Preston Mommsen, Brian Murgatroyd, Samuel Badree, Niall O'Brien, Ed Rainsford, Russel Arnold, Dirk Nannes and Mitchell McClenaghan.
The live-streamed matches will additionally feature Raunak Kapoor, Andrew Leonard, Nikhil Uttamchandani, Firdose Moonda and Tino Mawoyo.
Former Zimbabwe international Mpumelelo Mbangwa believed that the Zimbabwean fans would bring an electric atmosphere to the event.
“It is with great anticipation that I look forward to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The significance of the event cannot be overstated," Mbangwa said. “Whilst there is a nuanced appreciation for each team participating, the competition is a marker for the direction of our great game and requires that each give their best under the intense pressure of expectation.
“As this plays out on the field, the Zimbabwe cricket fans will bring an electric vibrancy off it which will make any long-distance observer envious, and many a visitor happy to have made the trip. I cannot wait!”
Natalie Germanos, was honoured to be a part of the broadcasting team and eager for the tournament to unfold.
“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is the pinnacle of the format and the opportunity to play in the event is so close for these teams," Germanos said.
“It’s a privilege to be part of the broadcast team that will bring the qualifying tournament to life. I am eagerly awaiting to see how this incredible tournament unfolds, and to witness dreams being realised.”
Ian Bishop believed that the tournament would arouse intense competition and entertainment.
“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup continues to be a high watermark for all male cricketers who desire to fulfil lifelong ambitions of competing against the best of their peers,” Bishop said.
“Hence, for the 10 teams, and the multiplicity of players vying for the two remaining spots to fulfil that dream will once again arouse intense competition, entertainment and mouthwatering drama for players and fans alike.
“My colleagues and I are eager and privileged to once again be able to cover and relay the stories and excitement of these battles to you over the next three weeks, and eager to finally reveal the eventual victors.”
