After agreeing to play at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has raised another issue regarding its scheduled games in Chennai and Bengaluru for the ICC World Cup 2023 to be held in India. Pakistan will face Australia at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Chennai.
Pakistan has reportedly agreed to travel to India for the ODI World Cup starting on October 5. (BCCI).
According to a report in Cricket Pakistan, the PCB is looking to request a venue swap for their matches against Afghanistan and Australia. Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium famously favors spin bowlers and Afghanistan have quality spin options including Rashid Khan in their squad. Pakistan is worried that this will affect their chances of reaching the knockouts and hence wants to play against Afghanistan in Bengaluru.
Babar AzamThe captaincy team has to play against Australia in Bengaluru where the fast bowlers are likely to get some help from the surface. Therefore, the PCB has requested to swap venues for their World Cup games against Australia and Afghanistan due to playing conditions.
As per the schedule draft submitted by the BCCI to the ICC, Pakistan will lock horns against hosts India in a high-voltage game on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Pakistan had previously refused to play any matches in Ahmedabad, but ICC President Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardyce visited Pakistan to convince them to travel to India without preconditions.
Pakistan’s schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023:
Pakistan v Qualifier, 6 October, Hyderabad
Pakistan v Qualifier, 12 October, Hyderabad
Pakistan v India, 15 October, Ahmedabad
Pakistan v Australia, 20 October, Bengaluru
Pakistan v Afghanistan, 23 October, Chennai
Pakistan v South Africa, 27 October, Chennai
Pakistan v Bangladesh, 31 October, Kolkata
Pakistan v New Zealand, 5 November, Bengaluru
Pakistan v England, 12 November, Kolkata