Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin is skeptical about the likelihood of the International Cricket Council (ICC) accommodating the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) appeal to change the venues for their World Cup 2023 matches against Afghanistan and Australia.
In a candid video on his official YouTube channel, Ashwin expressed his views on the matter, highlighting a significant concern. The PCB’s request explicitly acknowledged that the conditions in Chennai would favor Afghanistan, making a venue change advantageous for Pakistan. Consequently, Ashwin doubts that the ICC will entertain such a request.
A recent report from ESPNcricinfo revealed that Pakistan had formally approached the ICC to swap the venues for the aforementioned matches, as it would position them as the “favorites.” Currently, the provisional World Cup schedule lists Pakistan playing against Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai.
Traditionally, ICC event venues are only altered in the face of security threats. However, the PCB’s internal memo stated that they wished to change the venue for nearly all of Pakistan’s matches, excluding only three, including the highly anticipated encounter against India on October 15.
The PCB’s note further mentioned that India playing in Ahmedabad would be advantageous for them, but they recognized the unlikelihood of a change due to the significance of the venue for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the importance of the match for the World Cup.
Additionally, the memo proposed Lucknow as a favorable ground for Pakistan, considering the overall statistics. Delhi was also identified as a suitable venue against most teams. If a third change were possible, the note suggested moving the England game to either Lucknow or Chennai.
The official schedule for the ICC Cricket World Cup is set to be announced on June 27. Until then, the tentative schedule outlines Pakistan’s matches, commencing on October 6 against a qualifier in Hyderabad, followed by another qualifier match on October 12, the high-stakes clash against India on October 15 in Ahmedabad, and subsequent matches against Australia, Afghanistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and England.
Ashwin’s doubts regarding the ICC’s acceptance of Pakistan’s request reflect the complex considerations surrounding venue changes, emphasizing the significance of security, fairness, and the overall impact on the tournament. The anticipation for the World Cup schedule announcement continues to grow as fans eagerly await the final details.
Also, see:
https://www.homeoft20.com/pakistans-world-cup-participation-in-india-evaluated/
