Pakistan needs venues swapped for World Cup matches towards Australia and Afghanistan

In a rare transfer, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the ICC to swap venues for 2 of their league matches within the 2023 ODI World Cup. Pakistan are presently scheduled to play Australia in Bengaluru on October 20, after which Afghanistan in Chennai on October 23 however they’ve requested for a change the place they play Afghanistan in Bengaluru and Australia in Chennai.

It is learnt that the PCB supplied no particular purpose to the ICC for the request, however an inner observe accessed by ESPNcricnfo says the venue swap would “make” Pakistan “favourites” in each matches.

“Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai are the two which we should look to get changed as much as possible,” the PCB’s inner observe stated. “Ideally, we can switch these around. Australia in Chennai and Afghanistan in Bengaluru would make us obvious favourites in both matches.”

It couldn’t be confirmed whether or not the ICC had responded to the PCB request, or, whether or not it could even contemplate it. Pakistan are additionally scheduled to play Afghanistan in one in all their warm-up matches, and it’s discovered that the PCB has requested the ICC if they might play one in all South Africa, England, New Zealand or Australia as a substitute.

Normally, safety is the first purpose for a venue change at an ICC occasion. For instance, through the 2016 T20 World Cup, the unique schedule had the India-Pakistan match on March 19 in Dharamsala, however within the absence of a water-tight safety assurance from the from Indian authorities, the match was moved to Kolkata.

There isn’t any point out of a safety risk within the PCB’s inner observe, which was ready as a part of an evaluation of the grounds the place they are going to be taking part in through the World Cup. It suggests trying into altering the venue for all however three of Pakistan’s matches, together with the one towards India on October 15.

“India in Ahmedabad will be advantageous to them, but I doubt that’s going to change considering what that venue means for the BCCI and what this match means for the World Cup.”

The New Zealand match, listed on November 5 in Bengaluru, is an “issue” however “not a hill worth dying on.” The inner observe cites a bit extra concern concerning the two video games Pakistan play in Kolkata, towards Bangladesh on October 31 and defending champions England on November 12, the final match of the league phease. It additionally presents various venues that the group could be extra snug taking part in.

“Lucknow would also be a good ground for us considering the overall numbers there. Delhi against most teams would be good for us too. If there is a third change we can make it to get the England game to Lucknow or Chennai.”

World Cup schedule on June 27?

It is known the BCCI was planning to unveil the World Cup schedule on June 27, which can be 100 days from October 5, the scheduled begin of the event. However, the PCB are but to present their approval of the fixture checklist which the ICC had distributed to all collaborating nations and the broadcaster searching for suggestions.

Najam Sethi, who stepped down as interim PCB chairman on Monday, had stated this at a latest media briefing: “We have written to the ICC that we can’t give approval or disapproval to this [World Cup schedule]. It’s our government who has to decide, just like when it comes to India, it’s their government that decides when they go to play.”

In its electronic mail to ICC, the PCB pressured that the Pakistan authorities would wish to present a clearance for all venues. It is learnt that the PCB’s response has performed a component within the ICC’s incapability to launch the World Cup schedule to the general public and go stay with ticket gross sales.

The subsequent PCB chairman, who’s more likely to be Zaka Ashraf, might want to have a right away dialog with Pakistan authorities. It is known that ICC has notified the PCB that it can not afford to attend for for much longer earlier than releasing the schedule.