The world has changed a lot since the inaugural edition of the ICC World Cup took place in England way back in 1975 as a ‘necessary evil’ and at a time when the radio or the affluent people’s black and white televisions were the only modes to tune in to the action of cricket’s showpiece event. 

On the crowded streets outside the world's biggest cricket arena -- the 130,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium, which will host the opening match between defending champions England and New Zealand on Thursday -- hawkers report a brisk trade.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play two of their initial World Cup matches in Dharamsala.

While playing semi-pro club cricket in Australia, Edwards made ends meet by training as an electrician

His best ODI score of 97 not out was made against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi in 2018 while two of his 16 half-centuries came in his two most recent matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Asia Cup.

He made history when he became the first Black South African to score a Test hundred, against England in 2016. But he needed patience over the next seven years, two months and 88 innings as he waited for his second Test ton

Shakib has been leading they way for his side since making his World Cup debut in 2007.

With De Kock looking sharp and still batting on 84 not out when the match was interrupted, South Africa will likely feel aggrieved at the outcome.

He enjoyed a memorable ODI debut in 2016, scoring 42 and taking a career-best 5-43 with his medium pace against Ireland.

Named player of the 2019 World Cup, Williamson handled defeat in the final with remarkable grace as England snatched the trophy away from New Zealand in the cruellest of manners

A clean-cut image was crucial for Australia in the aftermath of the notorious 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa so he was the ideal candidate to succeed Tim Paine as Test skipper in the light of Paine's 'sexting' controversy in 2021

Vice-captain at an unhappy 2015 World Cup, Buttler played a starring role in the final four years later -- making 59 off 60 balls in a vital stand with Ben Stokes, before adding crucial runs in the Super Over and sealing victory by completing the run-out of Martin Guptill

In ODI cricket, Shakib shone at the 2019 World Cup where he scored 606 runs in eight matches, surpassing the record of Sachin Tendulkar for most runs in a group stage.

One of the criticisms of ODIs, once the economic driving force of the global game, is that they are too often reduced to 'meaningless' bilateral series.

Rohit is the only man to have made three double centuries in ODI cricket -- 208 against Sri Lanka in 2017, 209 against Australia in 2013 and the all-time highest of 264 facing Sri Lanka in 2014.

Factfile on Pakistan captain Babar Azam ahead of the Cricket World Cup which gets underway in India on Thursday:

"Shakib [Al Hasan] is 100% fine and ready for the first match,” Shanto said during the toss for their second warm-up match against defending champions England at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati today.

Steyn revealed the names of five fast bowlers, speaking on a video released by ICC on their Instagram page, "who could do some damage at 2023 World Cup." 

The Bangladesh team will play their second warm-up match against England today before moving to Dharamsala, where they will play their first match of the World Cup against Afghanistan on October 7.

The epic tournament features 10 nations playing 48 matches over 46 days at 10 different venues