ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2015 AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND : ALL ABOUT IT, SCHEDULE

The 2015 Cricket World Cup will be the 11th Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand from 14 February to 29 March 2015. 14 teams will play 49 matches in 14 venues, with Australia staging 26 games at grounds in Adelaide,Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney while New Zealand hosts 23 games in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin,Hamilton, Napier, Nelson and Wellington. The final match of the tournament will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The hosting rights were awarded at the same time as those of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, which Australia and New Zealand had originally bid to host, and the 2019 Cricket World Cup, which was awarded to England. The 2011 tournament was awarded to the four Asian Test cricket playing countries, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, in a 10 to 3 vote (Pakistan later lost the co-hosting rights due to a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team). The International Cricket Council were sufficiently impressed with thetrans-Tasman bid that it was decided to award the next World Cup to Australia and New Zealand. This is the second time that the tournament will be held in Australia and New Zealand, with the first being the 1992 Cricket World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar has been named as the 2015 Cricket World Cup Ambassador by the ICC for the second time, after 2011 Cricket World Cup where he was the ambassador.

India are the defending champions, having won the tournament in 2011 when it was held in the Indian subcontinent, defeating Sri Lanka in the finals by 6 wickets. Tickets for the Pool B match between India and Pakistan scheduled on 15 February 2015, were reportedly sold out within 12 minutes.

FEB 14, SATURDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Feb 14)
10:00 PM GMT (Feb 13)

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka

1st Match, Pool A at Hagley Oval, Christchurch

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Australia vs England

2nd Match, Pool A at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

FEB 15, SUNDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

South Africa vs Zimbabwe

3rd Match, Pool B at Seddon Park, Hamilton

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

India vs Pakistan

4th Match, Pool B at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

FEB 16, MONDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Feb 16)
10:00 PM GMT (Feb 15)

Ireland vs West Indies

5th Match, Pool B at Saxton Oval, Nelson

FEB 17, TUESDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Feb 17)
10:00 PM GMT (Feb 16)

New Zealand vs Scotland

6th Match, Pool A at University Oval, Dunedin

FEB 18, WEDNESDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan

7th Match, Pool A at Manuka Oval, Canberra

FEB 19, THURSDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Feb 19)
10:00 PM GMT (Feb 18)

United Arab Emirates vs Zimbabwe

8th Match, Pool B at Saxton Oval, Nelson

FEB 20, FRIDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

New Zealand vs England

9th Match, Pool A at Westpac Stadium, Wellington

FEB 21, SATURDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Feb 21)
10:00 PM GMT (Feb 20)

Pakistan vs West Indies

10th Match, Pool B at Hagley Oval, Christchurch

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Australia vs Bangladesh

11th Match, Pool A at The Gabba, Brisbane

FEB 22, SUNDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Feb 22)
10:00 PM GMT (Feb 21)

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka

12th Match, Pool A at University Oval, Dunedin

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

India vs South Africa

13th Match, Pool B at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

FEB 23, MONDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Feb 23)
10:00 PM GMT (Feb 22)

England vs Scotland

14th Match, Pool A at Hagley Oval, Christchurch

FEB 24, TUESDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

West Indies vs Zimbabwe

15th Match, Pool B at Manuka Oval, Canberra

FEB 25, WEDNESDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Ireland vs United Arab Emirates

16th Match, Pool B at The Gabba, Brisbane

FEB 26, THURSDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Feb 26)
10:00 PM GMT (Feb 25)

Afghanistan vs Scotland

17th Match, Pool A at University Oval, Dunedin

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka

18th Match, Pool A at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

FEB 27, FRIDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

South Africa vs West Indies

19th Match, Pool B at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

FEB 28, SATURDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

New Zealand vs Australia

20th Match, Pool A at Eden Park, Auckland

12:00 PM (GMT+0530)
06:30 AM GMT

India vs United Arab Emirates

21st Match, Pool B at W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth

MAR 01, SUNDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Mar 01)
10:00 PM GMT (Feb 28)

England vs Sri Lanka

22nd Match, Pool A at Westpac Stadium, Wellington

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Pakistan vs Zimbabwe

23rd Match, Pool B at The Gabba, Brisbane

MAR 03, TUESDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Ireland vs South Africa

24th Match, Pool B at Manuka Oval, Canberra

MAR 04, WEDNESDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates

25th Match, Pool B at McLean Park, Napier

12:00 PM (GMT+0530)
06:30 AM GMT

Australia vs Afghanistan

26th Match, Pool A at W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth

MAR 05, THURSDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Mar 05)
10:00 PM GMT (Mar 04)

Bangladesh vs Scotland

27th Match, Pool A at Saxton Oval, Nelson

MAR 06, FRIDAY

12:00 PM (GMT+0530)
06:30 AM GMT

India vs West Indies

28th Match, Pool B at W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth

MAR 07, SATURDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

Pakistan vs South Africa

29th Match, Pool B at Eden Park, Auckland

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Ireland vs Zimbabwe

30th Match, Pool B at Bellerive Oval, Hobart

MAR 08, SUNDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Mar 08)
10:00 PM GMT (Mar 07)

New Zealand vs Afghanistan

31st Match, Pool A at McLean Park, Napier

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Australia vs Sri Lanka

32nd Match, Pool A at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

MAR 09, MONDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

England vs Bangladesh

33rd Match, Pool A at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

MAR 10, TUESDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

India vs Ireland

34th Match, Pool B at Seddon Park, Hamilton

MAR 11, WEDNESDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Sri Lanka vs Scotland

35th Match, Pool A at Bellerive Oval, Hobart

MAR 12, THURSDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

South Africa vs United Arab Emirates

36th Match, Pool B at Westpac Stadium, Wellington

MAR 13, FRIDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

New Zealand vs Bangladesh

37th Match, Pool A at Seddon Park, Hamilton

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Afghanistan vs England

38th Match, Pool A at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

MAR 14, SATURDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

India vs Zimbabwe

39th Match, Pool B at Eden Park, Auckland

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Australia vs Scotland

40th Match, Pool A at Bellerive Oval, Hobart

MAR 15, SUNDAY

3:30 AM (GMT+0530) (Mar 15)
10:00 PM GMT (Mar 14)

West Indies vs United Arab Emirates

41st Match, Pool B at McLean Park, Napier

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

Ireland vs Pakistan

42nd Match, Pool B at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

MAR 18, WEDNESDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

TBC vs TBC

1st Quarter-Final (A1 v B4) at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

MAR 19, THURSDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

TBC vs TBC

2nd Quarter-Final (A2 v B3) at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

MAR 20, FRIDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

TBC vs TBC

3rd Quarter-Final (A3 v B2) at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

MAR 21, SATURDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

TBC vs TBC

4th Quarter-Final (A4 v B1) at Westpac Stadium, Wellington

MAR 24, TUESDAY

6:30 AM (GMT+0530)
01:00 AM GMT

TBC vs TBC

1st Semi-Final at Eden Park, Auckland

MAR 26, THURSDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

TBC vs TBC

2nd Semi-Final at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

MAR 29, SUNDAY

9:00 AM (GMT+0530)
03:30 AM GMT

TBC vs TBC

Final at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Three of New Zealand's favourite cricketing sons Sir Richard Hadlee, Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum will make appearance during the ceremony.

The free event, scheduled for a 6:30 pm local time, will feature a giant game of backyard cricket comprising local cricket teams, entertainers, and New Zealand's cricket heroes.

The main event will commence at 9:00 pm local time with a cultural welcome produced in association with Ngai Tahu, one of the original settlers. A live stage show will follow that will feature a special video appearance by all-time greats from New Zealand sport as part of a celebration showcasing an unrivalled history.

Then, it will be time for ceremonial speeches and official opening of the tournament. This will be followed by a live musical show featuring Shapeshifter, a live drum and bass act, Sol3 Mio, Hayley Westenra and Ginny Blackmore.

The momentous event will be capped off with extravagant fireworks displays.

The Melbourne opening ceremony will be held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Linlithgow Ave. The celebration will involve World Cup players and legends, cultural and music performances, and a stunning fireworks display.

Jessica Hilda Mauboy an Australian R&B and pop singer, Tina Arena, an Australian singer-songwriter, Nathaniel and Daryl Braithwaite, along with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with musical director, Chong Lim will treat the crowd with their musical performances.