The anticipation surrounding ICC World Cup 2023 isn’t solely attributed to its significance in the cricketing world; it also revolves around the meticulous management of affairs by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
With three of Pakistan’s matches already re-scheduled, including the high-stakes clash against India, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the tournament’s commencement. However, a cloud of uncertainty looms over the warm-up game between Pakistan and New Zealand, slated for September 29, as reported by The Indian Express.
The primary reason behind this uncertainty is the security agencies’ inability to provide adequate protection on September 28, owing to the coinciding religious festivals of Ganesh Visarjan and Milad-un-Nabi. This security concern doesn’t pertain solely to the warm-up match but also extends to the back-to-back World Cup games scheduled for October 9 and 10 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
On October 9, New Zealand is set to face the Netherlands, followed by Pakistan’s clash with Sri Lanka on October 10. Local authorities have verbally conveyed their inability to guarantee security, particularly the crucial bulletproof protection required for Pakistan’s match.
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has taken action by communicating their concerns and requests to the BCCI via email. However, their frustration stems from the lack of communication from BCCI officials and the absence of an official letter with the revised World Cup schedule.
While the Indian board had sent a letter confirming the initial schedule back in June, there has been a conspicuous silence from them since.
Amidst these uncertainties, Pakistan’s warm-up matches are as follows:
- September 29 — vs New Zealand in Hyderabad
- October 3 — vs Australia in Hyderabad
Pakistan’s ICC World Cup 2023 schedule is as follows:
- October 6 — vs Netherlands in Hyderabad
- October 10 — vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
- October 14 — vs India in Ahmedabad
- October 20 — vs Australia in Bengaluru
- October 23 — vs Afghanistan in Chennai
- October 27 — vs South Africa in Chennai
- October 31 — vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
- November 4 — vs New Zealand in Bengaluru (Day match)
- November 11 — vs England in Kolkata
Day matches will commence at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST), while all other fixtures will be day-night encounters starting at 01:30 pm (PST).
