Cricket World Cup 2023: Pakistan reluctantly comes to India

Yesterday, the 2023 Cricket World Cup schedule was released. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made every effort to move their matches away from India or to schedule them at specific locations. The inability to do so resulted in the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rejecting the PCB’s request for a venue change. Later this year, Pakistan will visit India for the World Cup.

Pakistan’s request

The PCB had asked to only have its games played in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata. They would not play any of their games in Ahmedabad unless it is a knockout match, according to former PCB Chairman Najam Sethi. On October 15 at Ahmedabad, there will be a major India vs. Pakistan match. Given the financial benefits of an India vs. Pakistan encounter, the ICC declined the PCB’s proposal to skip Ahmedabad. In terms of seating capacity, Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium is the biggest stadium on earth. The decision by ICC to hold what might be the largest group stage match at the high-capacity venue was an easy one. 

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the second-largest stadium in the world in terms of seating capacity after Narendra Modi Stadium, was chosen by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to host the match between the two nations during the T20 World Cup in Australia. Even the former PCB Chief Sethi stated that they would wait for the government to decide whether or not to play in Ahmedabad. 

The Men in Green are still without a victory in the Cricket World Cup, whereas India has defeated Pakistan seven times. When the World Cup last visited India in 2011, the two teams faced off in the semi-final. India defeated its neighbours to advance to the finals, where they defeated Sri Lanka to win the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

Change of venues

Following the release of the preliminary schedule for the Cricket World Cup 2023, the PCB asked the ICC to switch the locations of its matches against Australia and Afghanistan. Their appeal for a change of locations was also denied because, according to the schedule, they will still play Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai.

Why did the PCB request a swap of venues?

The locations of their matches against Australia and Afghanistan were to be relocated, according to PCB analysts. They believe the playing field will be to Afghanistan’s benefit and do not want to play Afghanistan in Chennai. For its assistance to spinners, the Chennai Chepauk stadium is famed. Afghanistan’s outstanding spin trio is made up of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad. According to the PCB, facing Afghanistan in the Chepauk stadium will disadvantage the Babar Azam-led team. 

In Bengaluru, Pakistan and Australia will face off. At Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, short boundaries are recognised for assisting players with good hitting skills. The PCB thinks that playing in Bengaluru will put the Australian batters in a better situation.

It will be interesting how Pakistan’s matches against Afghanistan and Australia unfold.

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