The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is all set to commence in less than two days time. While the previous edition of the tournament was held in 2019, a lot has changed in the world that humans inhabit since. Four years and a global pandemic later, the world cup is here yet again. Ten teams are set to participate in this tournament but there is just one captain from the 2019 edition of the tournament who is still leading his side in 2023.
While Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib, Australia's Aaron Finch, Bangladesh's Mashrafe Mortaza, England's Eoin Morgan, India's Virat Kohli, New Zealand's Kane Williamson, Pakistan's Sarfaraz Ahmed, South Africa's Faf du Plessis, Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne and West Indies' Jason Holder were the captains who led their respective sides in 2019 edition of the World Cup in England and Wales, in 2019 all the captains have been replaced by new leaders barring New Zealand's Williamson.
The BlackCaps cricketer remains the only leader who will still be at the helm of affairs for his side in the 2023 World Cup in India. Notably, even Williamson was doubtful to lead his side for the 2023 edition of the tournament. This is because he had sustained an injury while playing for the Gujarat Titans in their tournament opener in IPL 2023 which had virtually deemed him out of the world event. However, Williamson did not lose hope and will play a part in this competition.
The 33-year-old has looked good in the warm-up games ahead of the tournament but will be missing the tournament opener against England on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. West Indies did not even qualify this time around and have been replaced by Netherlands as one of the ten teams this year. The Men in Orange will be led by Scott Edwards. Afghanistan's Hashmatullah Shahidi, Australia's Pat Cummins, Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, England's Jos Buttler, India's Rohit Sharma, Pakistan's Babar Azam, South Africa's Temba Bavuma and Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka will be leading their respective teams this year.