PCB’s objection falls on deaf ears, Pak vs Afg ODI World Cup 2023 match to go on as planned

The Indian Cricket Board and Pakistan Cricket Board ((PCB) are at a fork in the road because of the persistent conflict between them. The Pakistani squad and the Pakistan Cricket Board have voiced their opposition to playing Afghanistan in Chennai on a surface that favours spin. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India disregarded Pakistan’s requests and abandoned the notion.

The Apex Cricket Council had contacted the PCB for ideas and recommendations regarding their plan for the World Cup 2023 before the schedule was made public. When PCB voiced its concerns about facing Afghanistan in Chennai, it was already there. “The PCB sent the tentative itinerary for the team to the selectors/experts who apparently are not comfortable with some of the Pakistan team’s scheduled matches and venues like they have reservations on Pakistan playing Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia at Bengaluru,” PTI reported.

ODI World Cup 2023 to kick off on October 5

However, the Indian Board has taken a resolute and severe stance, rejecting the PCB’s petitions to the Cricket Governing Body. The top cricket organization in India is nervous to change the suggested timetable in any way. “The suggestion is to ask the Cricket Governing Body/Indian Cricket Board to reschedule Pakistan’s matches and play Afghanistan in Bengaluru and Australia in Chennai to the team’s strength,” the source claimed.

An official source, however, stated that it is standard procedure for the Apex Cricket Council to consult with members over suggested itineraries and that there must be a compelling justification for changing the sites. “A member board can push for a venue change due to safety reasons like Pakistan did in 2016 when they travelled India for the 20-20 World Cup. If you start expressing reservations over a venue as per your team’s strengths and weaknesses on the field, then it becomes very tough to finalise the schedule.”

According to the reports, the 2023 edition of the ODI World Cup is scheduled to kick start in October with a fixture between last year’s finalists, England and New Zealand at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, and the final will be played on November 19 at the same venue. India will their first match of the tournament against Australia at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on October 8.