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With a rich history spanning nearly five decades, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup has been marked by glory, drama, and unforgettable moments. On October 5, the defending champions (England) will face off against the runners-up (New Zealand) of the last ODI World Cup, with all ten teams vying to claim the prestigious World Cup trophy. Let’s take a closer look at the journeys of each team in previous ODI World Cups.
Australia: The formidable Aussies have clinched the World Cup title five times, securing their ODI World Cup legacy from 1987 to 2015. In the most recent ODI World Cup, England eliminated them in the semifinals. Led by Pat Cummins, the Australian team looks dominant and is eager to add another trophy to their collection.
India: As the host of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023, India has been crowned World Champions twice, in 1983 and 2011. While they have consistently reached the semifinals in previous ODI World Cups, they’ve narrowly missed claiming the trophy. They are strong contenders with home advantage to lift the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Pakistan: The champions of the 1992 World Cup and the runners-up in 1999, Pakistan has had strong performances in past World Cups. However, it’s been 31 years since their last World Cup victory, and both their fans and team are eager to reclaim the trophy this time.
Sri Lanka: Winners of the 1996 World Cup, where they defeated the mighty Australians in the final, Sri Lanka boasts an impressive record in ODI World Cups. They finished as runners-up in the 2007 and 2011 editions but haven’t secured the trophy in the past 27 years despite two final appearances. They aim to etch Sri Lanka’s name on the trophy once more.
England: The defending champions earned their first ODI World Cup trophy in 2019 by defeating New Zealand. Despite reaching two previous finals, they had failed to clinch the trophy. England is considered one of the strong contenders to claim the title again.
New Zealand: Runners-up in the last two World Cups, New Zealand has come close but hasn’t won the coveted trophy. They faced defeat against Australia in 2015 and England in the memorable 2019 final. Fans are eagerly anticipating a potential victory for the Kiwis this time.
Bangladesh: Bangladesh debuted their ODI World Cup in 1999 as an associate nation. Their highest achievement in the tournament was reaching the Super Eight stage in the 2007 Cricket World Cup and the quarterfinals of the 2015 Cricket World Cup. They’ve notably defeated India and eliminated England from the tournament.
South Africa: South Africa first participated in the Cricket World Cup in 1992. They have reached the semi-finals in 1992, 1999, and 2011. In the 1999 World Cup, they had a great opportunity to make it to the final but lost to Australia due to a poor Net Run Rate (NRR) after the match ended in a draw. They have consistently performed well in World Cups and are eager to secure their maiden trophy in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Afghanistan: Afghanistan made their debut in the ODI World Cup in 2015 but haven’t performed strongly on the big stage. They did, however, qualify for the finals of the ICC World Cup qualifier in 2018, where they defeated West Indies in the final. With a world-class spin bowling department, they have the potential to upset stronger teams, especially on turning tracks in India.
Netherlands: The Netherlands participated in their first ODI World Cup in 1996 and have played in a total of four ODI World Cups. While they haven’t defeated any major teams in the World Cup, their recent form in qualifiers, including the elimination of two-time World Champions West Indies, demonstrates their capability to compete against strong opponents.
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