BackICC, BCCI reject Pakistan’s request to change Indian venue for World Cup 2023: Report
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have rejected a request from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to change the venues for two World Cup 2023 matches.
PremiumThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) with a request to change the venues for a couple of World Cup 2023 matches. However, the request has been rejected by both governing bodies. The PCB's plea, as per Cricbuzz, was specifically related to games scheduled to be held in Chennai and Bengaluru, where Pakistan is set to face Afghanistan and Australia, respectively.
The PCB, according to Pakistani media reports, sought a venue swap after reviewing the draft schedule shared by the ICC. Nevertheless, the ICC and BCCI have jointly decided that there are no valid reasons to alter the current venue assignments.
As hosts, the BCCI has the authority to finalise the venues while any changes require the approval of the ICC. Such modifications are typically considered only in cases of security concerns or if a particular venue is deemed unsuitable for international cricket.
Also Read: Pakistan ‘not comfortable’ with two Indian venues for ODI World Cup 2023: Report
Chennai and Bengaluru were deemed safe options for Pakistan, offering excellent facilities. The concerns raised by former PCB chief Najam Sethi about playing against India in Ahmedabad were also not entertained, the publication reported. LiveMint could not independently verify the claim.
While venue changes have been witnessed in the past due to security reasons, the recent meeting between the ICC and BCCI primarily focused on operational matters. The full schedule for World Cup 2023 is yet to be released, but it has been disclosed that the tournament will commence with a clash between England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad on October 5.
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The highly-anticipated match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place at the same venue on October 15, with the final match set for November 19. The official schedule is expected to be announced during an upcoming event in Mumbai.
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