ODI World Cup 2023: ICC rejects Pakistan's venue change request for two matches

Indian men`s cricket team and Pakistan men`s cricket team players at T20 World Cup 2022 (Pic: AFP)

The objections raised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on the schedule and venues of Pakistan national cricket team's matches in the ODI World Cup in India have been rejected by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

In the final schedule of the World Cup released on Tuesday by the ICC and BCCI, Pakistan's match against India is scheduled in Ahmedabad on October 15 as proposed in the draft earlier while PCB's request to switch venues for the matches against Afghanistan and Australia have been ignored.

As per wishes of the Pakistan team management, the PCB had asked ICC and BCCI to reschedule its match against Afghanistan from Chennai to Bengaluru and the game against Australia from Bengaluru to Chennai.

The Pakistan team management had concerns that given the Chepauk's history of helping spinners, it would leave the side at a disadvantage against Afghanistan, who have quality spinners.

But ICC hasn't paid heed to any of PCB's requests. Even the semifinals have been scheduled in Mumbai and Kolkata although the PCB has conveyed to the ICC it is not comfortable playing in Mumbai due to political and diplomatic reasons.

The ICC not entertaining Pakistan's request was on expected lines as it usually addresses concerns over venues on potential security threat and not on cricketing grounds.

With the elections for the post of PCB chairman now postponed at least until July 17, it remains to be seen how the board reacts to the World Cup schedule announcement.

Also Read: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman election faces delay as two former committee members approach court

An official source however made it clear that the schedule would be sent to the government for clearance.

"Our participation in the World Cup and us playing in Ahmedabad on October 15 or in Mumbai if we qualify for semi-finals will all be dependent on government clearance," he said.

He said until now the government had not issued any NOC to the PCB to travel to India and since it was a sensitive issue the board can only move forward after getting clear directives from its government.

"We have already informed the ICC that our participation in the tournament or any issues over venues is linked to firstly the PCB getting clearance from the government to travel to India," he reminded.

Pakistan last played in India in 2016 in the T20 World Cup.

With the Balochistan High Court issuing a stay order against the holding of elections for the chairman's seat on Monday on petitions filed by two former members of the PCB's cricket management committee, confusion reigns in Pakistan cricket over how it will react to the WC schedule.

At present the board is being run by interim chairman, Ahmed Shehzad Farooq Rana.

Zaka Ashraf, nominated for the chairman's post, has to win votes of the board of governors to officially take charge of the key post.

(With PTI inputs)

Also Read: ODI World Cup 2023 Schedule: Dates and venues announced; Ahmedabad to host final