Publications
Partners
London - London's Olympic Stadium will not stage any matches at next year's 2019 Cricket World Cup despite the arena boasting twice the capacity of Lord's, the sport's iconic home which will host the final.
READ: Proteas' CWC draw: The pros and cons
The International Cricket Council released the full fixture schedule for its showpiece men's one-day international tournament, which will take place in England and Wales, on Thursday.
There had been speculation the London Stadium, which has a capacity of some 60 000 - more than double that of Lord's and nearly three times that of The Oval, London's other established international cricket ground, could be used during the World Cup.
But the ground, now home to Premier League football club West Ham, has been ignored because the cost of converting it for cricket - a sport it has yet to stage - was too expensive.
"It was probably more than 18 months ago that we commissioned drop-in portable pitches to be growing and potentially sent to the London Stadium," said tournament managing director Steve Elworthy, speaking at Lord's.
"But after we understood the unique elements of what cricket would require in that stadium we found ourselves at the point where the infrastructure costs were probably going to be way too much.
"It was disappointing because we spent so much time on it, but I think it was the right decision for the tournament."
England one-day captain Eoin Morgan was glad his side's home advantage would not be nullified by a step into the unknown.
"It's not that disappointing for me," he said. "Certainly as a captain in the side and a player in the side I feel more comfortable that we're playing at grounds where we have a proven record.
"We've got the curtain-raiser at The Oval against a great South Africa side (on May 30), so it should be a great start to a good tournament," added Morgan, looking to lead England to their first World Cup title.
The key first-round fixture between sub-continental rivals India and Pakistan is a day/night clash at Old Trafford on June 16.
Reigning champions Australia will launch their title defence on June 1 against qualifiers Afghanistan in a day/night match in Bristol.
In all, 11 venues will be used with all 10 teams in a slimmed-down World Cup involved in an all-play-all first round before the top four advance to the semi-finals.
Edgbaston, in Birmingham, and Manchester's Old Trafford will stage the semi-finals on July 9 and 11 respectively, with the final at Lord's on July 14.
This World Cup, which has been scaled back to the dismay of many nations outside the Test elite, is similar to the eight-team 2017 Champions Trophy one-day international tournament in England and Wales won by Pakistan.
"We know from previous ICC events that every country will be proudly supported at each of the venues creating an exceptional atmosphere and a real celebration of the game," said ICC chief executive David Richardson.
This will be the first World Cup staged in England since 1999, but fifth in all after the country hosted the opening three editions in 1975, 1979 and 1983.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Schedule: By venue
All matches day matches unless otherwise stated
Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff
June 1 - New Zealand v Sri Lanka
June 4 - Afghanistan v Sri Lanka
June 8 - England v Bangladesh
June 15 - South Africa v Afghanistan (d/n)
County Ground Bristol, Bristol
June 1 - Afghanistan v Australia (d/n)
June 7 - Pakistan v Sri Lanka
June 11 - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
County Ground Taunton, Taunton
June 8 - Afghanistan v New Zealand (d/n)
June 12 - Australia v Pakistan
June 17 - Windies v Bangladesh
Edgbaston, Birmingham
June 19 - New Zealand v South Africa
June 26 - New Zealand v Pakistan
June 30 - England v India
July 2 - Bangladesh v India
July 11 - Second semi-final (2 v 3)
July 12 - Reserve day
Hampshire Bowl, Southampton
June 5 - South Africa v India
June 10 - South Africa v Windies
June 14 - England v Windies
June 22 - India v Afghanistan
June 24 - Bangladesh v Afghanistan
Headingley, Leeds
June 21 - England v Sri Lanka
June 29 - Pakistan v Afghanistan
July 4 - Afghanistan v Windies
July 6 - Sri Lanka v India
Lord's, London
June 23 - Pakistan v South Africa
June 25 - England v Australia
June 29 - New Zealand v Australia (d/n)
July 5 - Pakistan v Bangladesh (d/n)
July 14 - Final
July 15 - Reserve day
Old Trafford, Manchester
June 16 - India v Pakistan
June 18 - England v Afghanistan
June 22 - Windies v New Zealand (d/n)
June 27 - Windies v India
July 6 - Australia v South Africa (d/n)
July 9 - First semi-final (1 v 4)
July 10 - Reserve day
The Oval, London
May 30 - England v South Africa
June 2 - South Africa v Bangladesh
June 5 - Bangladesh v New Zealand (d/n)
June 9 - India v Australia
June 15 - Sri Lanka v Australia
The Riverside, Chester-le-Street
June 28 - Sri Lanka v South Africa
July 1 - Sri Lanka v Windies
July 3 - England v New Zealand
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
May 31 - Windies v Pakistan
June 3 - England v Pakistan
June 6 - Australia v Windies
June 13 - India v New Zealand
June 20 - Australia v Bangladesh
