The International Cricket Council (ICC) is doing everything it can to prevent a last-minute Pakistan pull-out from World Cup 2023. After agreeing to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demands of not playing in Mumbai, ICC has agreed to not schedule any warm-up matches against Asian nations. As things stand, Babar Azam & Co will play New Zealand and Australia in warm-up games.
Pakistan were originally scheduled to play Afghanistan in Hyderabad. However, PCB informed ICC of their lack of interest in playing Asian nations as they would have faced them in Asia Cup 2023.
PCB demanded to play non-Asian nations. Hence, ICC has made a change in the warm-up schedule. The other advantage Pakistan will have is less travelling.
Also Read: BCCI does a Harakiri, Rohit Sharma & Co to travel 12,000 km for World Cup 2023
Pakistan will play 4 matches including two warm-up games in Hyderabad and 3 matches in Chennai. The other three venues are Kolkata, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. It has been done to avoid security concerns.
Furthermore, if Pakistan qualify for semifinals, they will play in Kolkata irrespective of the opponents. Pakistan earlier refused to play in Ahmedabad. However, ICC and BCCI refused to change the venue for India vs Pakistan mega clash. As Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad can host 1,32,000 crowd, ICC did not want to miss out on that. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram also criticised PCB’s refusal to play at the venue.
“I don’t understand these unnecessary statements like ‘we won’t play in Ahmedabad’. Ask Pakistan players, they don’t care, they will play where they are scheduled to play,” Wasim Akram said.
Pakistan WC Warm-up schedule
- Sep 29: Pakistan vs New Zealand in Hyderabad
- Oct 3: Pakistan vs Australia in Hyderabad
Pakistan World Cup Schedule:
| Match No | Date | Day | Team 1 | Team 2 | Venue | City | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | October 6 | Friday | Pakistan | Qualifier 1 | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium | Hyderabad | 2:00 PM |
| 9 | October 12 | Thursday | Pakistan | Qualifier 2 | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium | Hyderabad | 2:00 PM |
| 13 | October 15 | Sunday | India | Pakistan | Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | 2:00 PM |
| 18 | October 20 | Friday | Australia | Pakistan | M Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru | 2:00 PM |
| 22 | October 23 | Monday | Pakistan | Afghanistan | MA Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | 2:00 PM |
| 26 | October 27 | Friday | Pakistan | South Africa | MA Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | 2:00 PM |
| 31 | October 31 | Tuesday | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Eden Gardens | Kolkata | 2:00 PM |
| 35 | November 4 | Saturday | New Zealand | Pakistan | M Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru | 10:30 AM |
| 45 | November 12 | Sunday | England | Pakistan | Eden Gardens | Kolkata | 2:00 PM |
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