World Cup 2023 Schedule is all but finalised. A senior BCCI official has confirmed InsideSport that the final schedule will be out in the next 48 hours with ICC Meeting set to finalise the last details. One of the most contentious issues is India vs Pakistan match venue. With Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) opposing Ahmedabad, Chennai is likely to host the mega clash. Pakistan will play their other league matches in Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata.
Chennai is the likely host for India vs Pakistan game. However, if Pakistan make it to the semifinals or final, they will play games at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
“We are meeting ICC officials tomorrow to discuss the fine prints of the schedule. Once that’s done, we will have it for you. By Monday, we should have the final schedule,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
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Why is taking so long for World Cup 2023 Schedule?
- The reason is the BCCI vs PCB rift.
- With India refusing to travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023 and ICC Champions Trophy 2023, ICC is trying to mediate between the two.
- Reports claim that Lahore is set to host 4 Asia Cup games. The other 9 games including the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan matches will be held in Sri Lanka.
- If Lahore gets to host 4 games, then Pakistan will have no problem in traveling to India for the 2023 World Cup.
- But PCB has its conditions and one of them is that the team won’t play in Ahmedabad due to political reasons.
- Ahmedabad was supposed to host the India vs Pakistan clash at world’s largest cricket stadium.
- But with Pakistan’s refusal, BCCI has had to rework the schedule. Now, once all the parties, especially Pakistan approve the venues, ICC will release the schedule.
Earlier, PCB chief Najam Sethi informed the ICC chief Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice that Pakistan won’t play in Ahmedabad, confirming that the team will visit India.
“Sethi has conveyed to Barclay and Allardice that Pakistan doesn’t want its matches in Ahmedabad unless it is a knock-out game like final. He requested ICC to schedule their games in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata if the national team gets clearance from the Pakistan government,” the source further added.
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