ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan seeking to swap venues for fixtures against Australia and Afghanistan
Najam Sethi Pakistan Cricket Board
After agreeing to play at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Pakistan has raised issues of not playing their matches at Bangalore and Chennai in the upcoming ODI World Cup which is scheduled to take place later this year in October-November. Pakistan will be facing Australia at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium and Afghanistan at MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Chennai.
According to reports, Pakistan has agreed to travel to India for the ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to start on October 5. However, their relations with India’s neighbour and the Indian Cricket Board are causing them a lot of problems with venues.
PAK to face IND on October 15
According to Cricket Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is requesting Apex Cricket Council and Indian Board for shifting their venues for the respective games, which are against Afghanistan and Australia. Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium favours the spinners more and Afghanistan has quality spinners like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, and Noor Ahmed.
On the other hand, Men in Green will lock horns with Australia at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bangalore which helps the pacers more than spinners and Australia have a great pace line-up that includes the likes of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazelwood, and Cameron Green. Due to the poor playing conditions, the PCB has requested a change of venue for their World Cup matches against Australia and Afghanistan.
Pakistan will take on hosts, the Men in Blue at Ahemedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on October 15, according to a schedule draft submitted by Indian Cricket Board and by the Cricket Governing Body. Earlier, Pakistan refused to play in Ahmedabad but Apex Cricket Council chairman, Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice visited P to convince them to travel to India without any pre-conditions.
Pakistan’s Scheduled for ODI World Cup 2023:
Pak vs Qualifier, October 6, Hyderabad
Pak vs Qualifier, October 12, Hyderabad
Pak vs Ind, October 15, Ahmedabad
Pak vs Aus, October 20, Bengaluru
Pak vs Afg, October 23, Chennai
Pak vs SA, October 27, Chennai
Pak vs Ban, October 31, Kolkata
Pak vs NZ, November 5, Bengaluru
Pak vs Eng, November 12, Kolkata
