PCB agrees: Due to security concerns, the date of the India-Pakistan World Cup match has been changed. The high-profile World Cup match between India and Pakistan, originally scheduled for October 15, has been moved to October 14 in Ahmedabad.
Due to security concerns on the first day of the Navratri festival in Ahmedabad, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed on the rescheduling. According to PTI, the ICC will shortly provide an amended schedule, and additional games involving various teams may potentially be delayed.
Pakistan will also face Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on October 10, creating a three-day hiatus before their key encounter against India.
The PCB has already asked the ICC and the BCCI to change the venues for a couple of World Cup 2023 matches, according to LiveMint. Both regulatory organisations, however, have declined the proposal.
The specific matches in question are those slated for Chennai and Bengaluru, when Pakistan will face Afghanistan and Australia, respectively.
The purported reservations voiced by former PCB president Najam Sethi about playing against India in Ahmedabad were allegedly ignored.
According to Pakistani media, the PCB reviewed the ICC’s initial schedule and requested a venue change for these matches. Despite the appeal, the ICC and BCCI agreed that there were no solid reasons to change the current venue assignments.
Ehsaan Mazari, Pakistan’s Sports Minister, had previously given a severe message to India on the Men in Blue’s participation in the Asia Cup, which is being held in Pakistan.
Mazari claimed that if India decides not to participate in the event on Pakistani soil, Pakistan will reply by pulling out of the World Cup 2023, which is planned to be held in India. He stressed that his stance was his personal perspective, but it also served as a strong indicator of Pakistan’s position.
