ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan refuses to play India in Ahmedabad, delay in schedule announcement

The ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 is less than four months away now, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are yet to come up with the official schedule for the tournament. While tentatively, the tournament is set to start on October 5 and end in November, the exact dates of the ODI World Cup are yet to be announced.

The BCCI has already shared a draft schedule with the ICC during the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London last week. It is believed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not happy that the India vs Pakistan match is to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15. The Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to play its remaining World Cup matches in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata.

According to a report in ‘The Telegraph’ newspaper, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has not yet approved Ahmedabad due to security issues. The PCB also wants a guarantee from the ICC for the safety of the players even if the government goes ahead with the games in Ahmedabad.

“Since the tour is dependent on permission from the government, the PCB has forwarded the documents to the relevant ministry which is looking into it. Considering the sensitivity of the situation, a decision will be taken based on what the government has to say.

“The PCB has been given a time-frame to study the draft program and is following it before giving its consent. Cricket matters related to the World Cup will be reviewed by the Pakistan Board, while anything related to security and other issues are being dealt with by the government and other relevant agencies.

The PCB is understood to have raised the issue during ICC chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice’s visit to Lahore last month.

The official schedule was earlier to be released during the WTC final last week but the PCB objected until the BCCI agreed to their ‘hybrid model’ for Asia Cup 2023. According to the ‘hybrid model’, India will play its Asia Cup matches. in Sri Lanka while the rest of the tournament will be held in Pakistan.

India’s World Cup draft schedule: (ESPNcricinfo)

IND vs AUS, 8 October, Chennai
IND vs AFG, 11 October, Delhi
IND vs PAK, 15 October, Ahmedabad
IND vs BAN, 19 October, Pune
IND vs NZ, 22 October, Dharamsala
IND vs ENG, 29 October, Lucknow
IND vs Qualifier, 2 November, Mumbai
IND vs SA, 5 November, Kolkata_ pic.twitter.com/6bur54O2L7– Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 11, 2023

As per the draft schedule of ICC ODI World Cup 2023, Team India’s schedule is as follows…

October 8: India vs Australia in Chennai

October 11: India vs Afghanistan in Delhi

October 15: India vs Pakistan in Ahmedabad

October 19: India vs Bangladesh in Pune

October 22: India vs New Zealand in Dharamsala

October 29: India vs England in Lucknow

November 2: India vs qualifiers in Mumbai

November 5: India vs South Africa in Kolkata

November 11: India vs qualifiers in Bengaluru

The two teams that progressed from the qualifiers will face Pakistan in Hyderabad on 6 and 12 October, and then face Australia in Bengaluru (20 October), Afghanistan (23 October) and South Africa (27 October) in Chennai, Bangladesh in Kolkata (31 October) in October). New Zealand in Bengaluru (Nov 5, day match) and England in Kolkata (Nov 12).