Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) late demand for a change in ICC ODI World Cup 2023 schedule has put BCCI under immense pressure. With just one and a half month to go for the start of ODI WC and a week for ticket sales to commence, HCA has given a huge shocker to BCCI and ICC.
According to The Indian Express, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has just sent a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asking for a break between two games that are scheduled to be played on consecutive days.
The Pakistan-Sri Lanka match is scheduled for October 10, at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Uppal. While a day earlier (October 9), the ODI World Cup 2023 game between Netherlands and New Zealand would be played.
Originally scheduled for October 12, the Pakistan game was pushed up a day to provide Men in Green more time to recover for their match against India.
Why delay in ODI World Cup schedule change demand and what it mean for BCCI
Why the HCA took so long to request a change of dates is unknown. However, The Indian Express believes that HCA was caught off guard by the original amended timetable and that none of the BCCI bosses or staff members talked to state representatives about the shift in dates.
Hyderabad Police informed the HCA that they would be unable to manage two consecutive games and the necessary security measures, particularly for the Pakistan game.
A huge number of police officers will be stationed at the hotel where the Pakistani team will be staying, and approximately 3,000 police officers will be deployed for one game.
According to reports, the police have notified HCA that if the other game—New Zealand vs. Netherlands—is played on the scheduled day, they won’t be able to provide sufficient protection for the Pakistan game.
With tickets for the World Cup 2023 start going on sale on August 25 in seven phases, it is unclear if the Indian board would change their dates at the last minute.
Just 10 days ago, nine of the 45 league games saw changes. Now that the tournament is almost here, it is unclear if there will be any additional changes.
Fans who wish to attend games in the stadium may experience significant inconvenience as a result of the schedule announcement delays, modifications, and the delayed start of ticket sales.
Even more people who seek to visit India from overseas will be impacted. As the event draws nearer, airfares and accommodation rates are predicted to increase significantly, leaving people who want to attend the World Cup at the various venues with a significant financial hole.
