A view of the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. File
The Pakistan cricket staff would like enjoying bulk of its 2023 ODI World Cup matches in Chennai and Kolkata — the 2 venues the place the staff has felt protected throughout its earlier excursions, in line with ICC sources.
The World Cup will begin tentatively on October 5, with 46 matches, together with last set to be performed throughout 12 Indian cities, together with Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, Rajkot, Bengaluru, Delhi, Indore, Guwahati and Hyderabad, Dharamasala.
It is known that discussions are at present on on the ICC stage as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) bigwigs are in talks with a prime stage ICC government on the problem, which nonetheless stays a delicate one.
“A lot will depend on what BCCI and the Indian government decide but given a choice, Pakistan will like to play most of its World Cup matches in Kolkata and Chennai.
“In Kolkata, Pakistan played its T20 World Cup game against India in 2016 and the players were very happy with the security. Similarly, Chennai as a venue remains memorable for Pakistan. It’s also about feeling safe at specific venues,” a supply near ICC Board, monitoring developments, instructed PTI on situations of anonymity.
The bone of rivalry will be the India versus Pakistan sport.
While Ahmedabad with 1,32,000 capability offers ICC, the most effective likelihood to earn optimum income however the Narendra Modi Stadium is already internet hosting the ultimate, so one other venue would possibly host the sport.
Each staff will play 9 games on the league stage which can be held in round-robin format.
The ICC’s Events committee, in affiliation with host cricket board BCCI, will chalk out the ultimate itinerary within the subsequent few months in order that it permits followers throughout India and different components to plan their journey itinerary.
Recently, ICC General Manager Wasim Khan, in his personal capability had instructed Pakistani media that the staff could play its matches in Bangladesh as part of a ‘hybrid mannequin’ that could be adopted for the reason that Indian staff will not be travelling to the nation for the Asia Cup.
But PCB chairman Najam Sethi, again then had rubbished the concept of enjoying World Cup games in Bangladesh. More so, ICC had made it clear that no such proposal had come from Pakistan about ‘hybrid mannequin’ for international tournaments.
During the 2011 World Cup, Pakistan’s semi-final in opposition to India was performed at Mohali, which made it logistically handy for the followers throughout the border to journey by way of Wagah Border. However, Mohali doesn’t determine within the 12 venues finalised by the BCCI.
In 1996, the high-profile quarterfinal was held on the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Lots has modified since then and in these delicate instances, it is going to be very tough to host Pakistan in among the particular venues, together with Mumbai and Dharamsala.
In reality Pakistan’s 2016 World Cup match was scheduled in Dharamsala however there have been apprehensions that due to the Pathankot tragedy (terrorists attacked the air base), it wasn’t a clever thought to host the match at that venue.
While safety will be prime notch for every staff, the BCCI as well because the Indian authorities want to make sure that there are no untoward incidents.
