Australian stars counting down to a 'thrilling' Cricket World Cup

Australian stars past and present have shared their excitement at the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in October, as well as the preceding Asia Cup which starts on 30 August.

(L-R) Adam Gilchrist, Usman Khawaja, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell pose for a photo during a preview of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Monday, August 21, 2023. (AAP Image/Flavio Brancaleone) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP / FLAVIO BRANCALEONE/AAPIMAGE

Key Points

• Cricket fans can look forward to the Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023, as well as tours by Pakistan and West Indies to Australia in the coming months.
• Usman Khawaja is eyeing a move into commentary.
• Australian ODI captain Pat Cummins expects formidable competition from Pakistan and India in the World Cup.

The coming months are bound to be a bumper period for cricket fans, with the Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan and Sri Lanka closely followed by the World Cup 2023 in India.

Finally, in December 2023, the Australian men's team will host Pakistan and West Indies in a new cycle of the World Test Championship.

Australian one-day international (ODI) captain Pat Cummins, ODI batsman Glenn Maxwell, Australian test batsman Usman Khawaja and wicket-keeping legend Adam Gilchrist shared their excitement towards the upcoming summer of cricket in an event held at Sydney Cricket Ground recently.

Adam Gilchrist told SBS Gujarati that excitement is truly mounting in Australia for the months of cricket ahead.

Adam Gilchrist during a preview of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Wednesday, January 1, 2014. (AAP Image/Flavio Brancaleone) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP / FLAVIO BRANCALEONE/AAPIMAGE

"I'm confident that Aussie fans will relish both the World Cup and Asia Cup, just as much as fans from the Indian Subcontinent will," he said.

"The experience of watching the Asia Cup to the ICC World Cup is truly a thrilling one," he added.

Usman Khawaja during a preview of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Wednesday, January 1, 2014. (AAP Image/Flavio Brancaleone) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP / FLAVIO BRANCALEONE/AAPIMAGE

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja is gearing up for a shift in his career, as he readies himself to switch from the pitch to the commentary box.

After his retirement, Khawaja shared that he will become a full-time expert commentator, enriching the cricketing discourse with his insights.

"This transition marks a redefinition of my role in Australian cricket, a return shaped by a combination of luck, fitness, and performance," Khawaja told SBS Urdu.

He underlined the significance of representation and inclusivity in sport.

"I'm convinced that my presence in the Australian squad has paved a path for young migrant boys and girls in Australian cricket," he said.

As he prepares to guide the Australian ODI squad in the World Cup, Pat Cummins acknowledged the formidable competition posed by Asian teams, notably Pakistan and India.

Pat Cummins speaks to the media during a preview of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Wednesday, January 1, 2014. (AAP Image/Flavio Brancaleone) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP / FLAVIO BRANCALEONE/AAPIMAGE

He said the prospect of facing India on home soil would be particularly challenging, and underscored his team's commitment to playing with the utmost sportsmanship.

"We respect every team and their strengths, and we're determined to embrace the true essence of the game," Cummins said.

An essential member of the Australian squad, Glenn Maxwell shared his enthusiasm for the World Cup.

"India feels like a second home to me, and despite the various speculations, I believe there's still a significant journey ahead in my cricketing career," Maxwell revealed.

(Back L-R) Adam Gilchrist, Usman Khawaja, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell pose for photo with fans during a preview of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Monday, August 21, 2023. (AAP Image/Flavio Brancaleone) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP / FLAVIO BRANCALEONE/AAPIMAGE

Contested by six teams, the Asia Cup 2023 is set to begin on 30 August and will make history as the first edition to be co-hosted by multiple countries.

Pakistan will be the stage for four matches, while Sri Lanka will host the remaining nine matches, adding an exciting international dimension to the tournament.

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 in India will unfold across 46 days, kicking off on 5 October when England takes on New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Before then, the International Cricket Council has revealed the schedule for warm-up fixtures starting on Friday, 29 September.