Meet Chacha Mohammad Basheer, likely the only native Pakistan supporter inside the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium where his beloved team began their World Cup campaign on Friday.

A nine-wicket thumping is tough to digest but England captain Jos Buttler does not want to see his team mates wallow in self-pity after a horrible start to their World Cup title defence against New Zealand on Thursday.

Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar has predicted the four teams he believes will reach the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.

Bangladesh lost to India by nine wickets in men's cricket event of the Hangzhou Asian Games in a low-scoring first semifinal at Zheijng University of Technology Pingfen cricket ground today.

New Zealand batsman Rachin Ravindra on Thursday said hitting a match-winning century in the World Cup opener was inspired by watching footage of India cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid after whom he is named.

The greatest cricket carnival began yesterday with defending champions England taking on New Zealand at the biggest cricket stadium in the world in a country that arguably has the largest fanbase of the sport.

The Bangladesh team took part in its first training session in Dharamshala yesterday ahead of the Word Cup opener as the players try to put the chaotic buildup to the tournament in the rearview and take the field as a united unit.

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said that the young players that represented the country in the last World Cup in 2019 have now matured as he hopes his team will have two wins under their belts before they face old rivals India in the eagerly-awaited World Cup blockbuster.

New Zealand steamrollered defending champions England by nine wickets in the opening match of the ICC ODI World Cup yesterday, demonstrating again their knack of punching above their weight in showpiece events.

It was not an ideal start to a World Cup in India after all the hype and expectations. 

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra smashed centuries to power New Zealand to a crushing nine-wicket win over defending champions England in the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday.

The left-handed Conway raised his fifth ODI ton off 83 balls studded with 13 fours and two sixes at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

New Zealand bowlers led by Matt Henry kept England in check to 282-9 despite Joe Root's 77 in the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday.

Buttler and Co will look to post around 350, given their depth in batting.

It appears the BCCI missed a trick by not having the hosts play the World Cup opener.

New Zealand rested regular captain Kane Williamson (knee) and fast bowler Tim Southee (thumb) to give them more time to recover from surgery.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this group," he added.

As the ICC World Cup begins in India today, fans can expect torrents of runs over the next month and a half.

India skipper, however, said he appreciates "what's at stake" but will not get bogged down by the weight of expectation on his team to win another World Cup title at home.

Morgan, who retired from international cricket last year, said white-ball captain Jos Buttler had not been given the same level of support in the build-up to this World Cup that England has had in the past.