Image courtesy of: SuperSport

Melbourne last hosted a World Cup final in 1992

The International Cricket Council (ICC) have announced that Melbourne will host the 2015 World Cup final 23 years after former Pakistan captain Imran Khan led his country to World Cup glory by beating England in the final in 1992.

The semi-finals will be played in Sydney and Auckland, just like it was in 1992.

The New Zealand city of Christchurch, which recently recovered from a devastating earthquake, will host the opening match of the World Cup on February 14 at the Hagley Oval, which will feature New Zealand and Sri Lanka, while Melbourne play host to Australia and England, who will play later that same day.

India, who are the defending champions, will start off their World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Adelaide the following day.

The ICC also announced that Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Wellington will each host one quarter-final match.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup is the flagship tournament of the 50-over game,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said. “The 2015 tournament will mark 40 years since the first World Cup in 1975 and that history of great contests and heroes helps make the tournament what it is – the most sought after prize in our increasingly global game.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be returning to Australia and New Zealand after 23 years and will be staged at the back of two outstanding 50-over ICC events – the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013. I’m absolutely confident that the success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will further strengthen the status of 50-over cricket as a successful and viable format alongside Tests and Twenty20 Internationals.”

Many of the tournament’s venues have undergone major redevelopments, with the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) now capable of housing 48,000 spectator, while the Adelaide Oval and Auckland’s Eden Park can now accommodate 50,000 fans.

The tournament will feature 49 matches in 44 days and will be played in 15 cities across Australia and New Zealand from February to March 2015.

Pool A: England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Qualifier 2 and Qualifier 3

Pool B: South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Qualifier 4

Venue cities: Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Canberra, Christchurch, Dunedin, Napier, Nelson, Hamilton, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Wellington