Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule: Predictions and Preview for Upcoming Fixtures
The 2015 World Cup is now in full swing in Australia and New Zealand, both hosts having made winning starts on Saturday.
The Kiwis are back in action again on Tuesday as they look to go top of Pool A with a win over Scotland, who are just kicking off their campaign.
Bangladesh and Afghanistan also get their own tournaments going when the pair face off in Canberra on Wednesday, each side eager for a victory which could stand them in good stead for qualification to the knockout rounds come the end of the group stages.
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Read on for a look at the updated schedule along with previews and predictions for Pool A's upcoming duo of fixtures.
| Date | Start Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
| Feb. 17 | 10 p.m. (day before) | New Zealand v Scotland | Dunedin |
| Feb. 18 | 3:30 a.m. | Bangladesh v Afghanistan | Canberra |
| Feb. 19 | 10 p.m. (day before) | Zimbabwe v UAE | Nelson |
| Feb. 20 | 1 a.m. | England v New Zealand | Wellington |
| Feb. 21 | 10 p.m. (day before) | Pakistan v West Indies | Christchurch |
| Feb. 21 | 3:30 a.m. | Australia v Bangladesh | Brisbane |
| Feb. 22 | 10 p.m. (day before) | Sri Lanka v Afghanistan | Dunedin |
| Feb. 22 | 3:30 a.m. | South Africa v India | Melbourne |
| Feb. 23 | 10 p.m. (day before) | England v Scotland | Christchurch |
| Feb. 24 | 3:30 a.m. | West Indies v Zimbabwe | Canberra |
| Feb. 25 | 3:30 a.m. | Ireland v UAE | Brisbane |
| Feb. 26 | 10 p.m. (day before) | Afghanistan v Scotlan | Dunedin |
| Feb. 26 | 3:30 a.m. | Sri Lanka v Bangladesh | Melbourne |
| Feb. 27 | 3:30 a.m. | South Africa v West Indies | Sydney |
| Feb. 28 | 1 a.m. | Australia v New Zealand | Auckland |
| Feb. 28 | 6:30 a.m. | India v UAE | Perth |
| March 1 | 10 p.m. (day before) | England v Sri Lanka | Wellington |
| March 1 | 3:30 a.m. | Pakistan v Zimbabwe | Brisbane |
| March 3 | 3:30 a.m. | South Africa v Ireland | Canberra |
| March 4 | 1 a.m. | Pakistan v UAE | Napier |
| March 4 | 6:30 a.m. | Australia v Afghanistan | Perth |
| March 5 | 10 p.m. (day before) | Bangladesh v Scotland | Nelson |
| March 6 | 6:30 a.m. | India v West Indies | Perth |
| March 7 | 1 a.m. | South Africa v Pakistan | Auckland |
| March 7 | 3:30 a.m. | Zimbabwe v Ireland | Hobart |
| March 8 | 10 p.m. (day before) | New Zealand v Afghanistan | Napier |
| March 8 | 3:30 a.m. | Australia v Sri Lanka | Sydney |
| March 9 | 3:30 a.m. | England v Bangladesh | Adelaide |
| March 10 | 1 a.m. | India v Ireland | Hamilton |
| March 11 | 3:30 a.m. | Sri Lanka v Scotland | Hobart |
| March 12 | 1 a.m. | South Africa v UAE | Wellington |
| March 13 | 1 a.m. | Bangladesh v New Zealand | Hamilton |
| March 13 | 3:30 a.m. | England v Afghanistan | Sydney |
| March 14 | 1 a.m. | India v Zimbabwe | Auckland |
| March 14 | 3:30 a.m. | Australia v Scotland | Hobart |
| March 15 | 10 p.m. (day before) | West Indies v UAE | Napier |
| March 15 | 3:30 a.m. | Pakistan v Ireland | Adelaide |
| March 18 | 3:30 a.m. | Quarter-final 1 | Sydney |
| March 19 | 3:30 a.m. | Quarter-final 2 | Melbourne |
| March 20 | 3:30 a.m. | Quarter-final 3 | Adelaide |
| March 21 | 1 a.m. | Quarter-final 4 | Wellington |
| March 24 | 1 a.m. | Semi-final 1 | Auckland |
| March 25 | 3:30 a.m. | Semi-final 2 | Sydney |
| March 29 | 4:30 a.m. BST | Final | Melbourne |
New Zealand vs. Scotland
New Zealand made a serious statement with a very convincing victory in their opening match, the hosts crushing Sri Lanka by 98 runs.
They are one of the favourites to win the competition and should ease past Scotland in Dunedin if they play to their best.
However, they face a different task against Scotland than they did against Sri Lanka, as nobody will expect New Zealand to face any difficulty, something which can breed complacency.
The Scots are in some decent form having thrashed Ireland and lost narrowly to the West Indies in their warm-up matches—they put on 310 in the latter contest.
The likes of Kyle Coetzer and Richie Berrington are in good form with the bat, per BBC Sport's Jane Lewis, while seamer Alasdair Evans has been successful of late with the ball:
The likes of Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and Daniel Vettori were all part of a New Zealand XI that just scraped to a single-run victory over Scotland back in October, thus they will be aware of the threat Scotland pose.
The form of this current Black Caps side is such, though, that anything but a convincing Kiwi win seems unlikely.
Their batting depth and bowling variation, paired with the home advantage, make New Zealand a team capable of beating any side in world cricket, and the Scots should not prove too great a challenge on Tuesday.
Prediction: New Zealand to win convincingly
Bangladesh vs. Afghanistan
Afghanistan play their first-ever World Cup match on Wednesday against Bangladesh in Canberra and will be hoping to make an impression against one of the Test-playing nations.
Having appeared at three T20 World Cups, Afghanistan made it to their first 50-over tournament in October 2013 when they beat Kenya.
They have arguably the best bowling lineup of any of the associate nations, Shahpoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran and Hamid Hassan all capable of causing Bangladesh problems in Australian conditions.
The Afghans come into their opening World Cup encounter on the back of a 14-run victory over UAE, much better form than their Canberra opponents, per ESPNcricinfo's Mohammad Isam:
However, Bangladesh have greater quality than Afghanistan and should be able to restrict a weak batting team.
Bangladesh's main man is Shakib Al Hasan, the world's best all-rounder, and his contributions with both bat and ball will be vital in giving his side a winning start.
Afghanistan have come a long way in a short space of time and can have realistic designs of causing Bangladesh real problems.
But Bangladesh should have the superior acumen with the bat and ball to kick off their World Cup with a victory.
Prediction: Bangladesh to win narrowly
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