In a significant development leading up to the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan has agreed to a schedule change that will see the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash take place on October 14, a day earlier than originally scheduled.
This decision comes as a result of concerns over the Hindu festival of Navaratri, which coincided with the initial fixture date of October 15.
While the revised ICC schedule is yet to be officially released, it is understood that the change has been accepted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), ensuring that the match will still be hosted in Ahmedabad.
The rescheduling of the marquee India-Pakistan encounter has implications for Pakistan’s previous fixture against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad. The venue remains unchanged, but the game will now be played on October 10 instead of October 12, allowing for a more comfortable gap between the two matches.
The need for this schedule change arose primarily due to concerns related to security arrangements on the first day of Navaratri. Local police expressed apprehensions about providing adequate security for the match on that specific day. The ICC communicated this issue to the PCB, and the PCB subsequently agreed to the alteration.
However, it’s worth noting that BCCI secretary Jay Shah mentioned that the schedule adjustment was not solely motivated by Navaratri. He stated that several Full Member countries had requested changes to the World Cup schedule, implying that there might be additional tweaks in the works.
The modification to the India-Pakistan clash date is expected to have a ripple effect on other games and teams. October 14 is already designated as a double-header, featuring matches between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Chennai and Afghanistan and England in Delhi. The latter game is likely to be affected, possibly being rescheduled a day earlier to October 13.
These schedule changes come just two months before the ODI World Cup is set to kick off, highlighting the already delayed release of the original schedule.
Unlike previous editions, where fixtures were announced more than a year in advance, this year’s schedule was unveiled by the BCCI and the ICC only at the end of June, a mere 100 days before the tournament’s commencement. Additionally, details regarding ticket sales for the tournament have not yet been disclosed, leaving cricket enthusiasts eagerly awaiting more information.
With the World Cup scheduled to begin on October 5, featuring a showdown between reigning champions England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad, cricket fans are keeping a close eye on further developments and adjustments in the run-up to this highly anticipated event.
Ajmal Khan