The Pakistan cricket team is not ‘comfortable’ with some of the participating teams playing at specific venues during the ODI World Cup in India, including Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia in Bengaluru. The impasse over the staging of the Asia Cup 2023 has ended and Pakistan are now expected to travel to India for the World Cup in October-November. The much-awaited encounter between India and Pakistan is likely to take place in Ahmedabad on October 15.
Before announcing the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 schedule, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked member boards, including the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), for suggestions on the proposed travel schedule. A reliable source in the PCB told news agency PTI that the board’s data, analytics and team strategy experts have been given the task of approving the venues where the ICC and BCCI have temporarily shifted Pakistan’s matches for the 50-over mega event. determined from.
“The PCB sent a tentative travel itinerary for the team to the selectors/experts, who were apparently not comfortable with some of the Pakistan team’s scheduled matches and venues, such as Pakistan playing Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia in Bengaluru,” the source said. There is an objection.”
Playing Afghanistan in spin-friendly Chennai would mean facing players like Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed, who have done well for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The conditions in Bengaluru are generally batting friendly and it is difficult to understand why Pakistan would object to playing against Australia at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.
A PCB source said that the selectors, who are also part of the team management, have advised the board not to accept Chennai as the venue for the match against Afghanistan as it was historically and statistically a venue that favors spinners. Was in favor of
“The suggestion is to ask the ICC/BCCI to change the schedule of Pakistan’s matches and play Afghanistan in Bengaluru and Australia in Chennai depending on the strength of the teams,” claimed the source.
However, a BCCI source said that the ICC is seeking suggestions from the members regarding the travel schedule and it is part of the protocol and there should be a strong reason to change the venues. “A member board may insist for a change of venue due to security reasons like Pakistan did in 2016 when they traveled to India for the T20 World Cup. If you start expressing reservations at a venue according to your team’s strengths and weaknesses on the field, it becomes very difficult to finalize the schedule. So unless there is a strong reason, no changes are made as far as venues are concerned.
Last month, the PCB announced a new-look national selection committee, which for the first time had a secretary for the national side in Hasan Cheema, manager analytics and team strategy, while also including Mickey Arthur, who is the director of the national men’s team. And the head coach. Grant Bradburn.
Chief selector Haroon Rashid has said that in order to adapt to the requirements of modern cricket, the selectors will rely heavily on data and analytics to develop the team’s strategy ahead of any match. Asked whether Pakistan is ready to play its showpiece match against India in Ahmedabad, a PCB source said it was more or less agreed upon but the final decision would be taken by the government.
The first two qualifying matches of the Pakistan team will be played in Hyderabad on October 6 and 12. Other venues where Pakistan are expected to play are Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.
Unless there is a good reason for the World Cup, no changes are made. (PTI – Speaking of Pakistan, there is a need for a change of venue for the Afghanistan and Australia matches) pic.twitter.com/xOyItipfbc– Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 19, 2023
October 6 – Pakistan vs Qualifier 1 – Hyderabad
October 12 – Pakistan vs Qualifier 2 – Hyderabad
15 October – India vs Pakistan – Ahmedabad
October 20 – Pakistan vs Australia – Bengaluru
23 October – Pakistan vs Afghanistan – Chennai
27 October – Pakistan vs South Africa – Chennai
31 October – Pakistan vs Bangladesh – Kolkata
november 5 – Pakistan vs New Zealand – Bengaluru
12 November – Pakistan vs England – Kolkata











