Pakistan’s matches against Sri Lanka and India would be separated by three days instead of the two specified in the original World Cup schedule.
The highly anticipated 50-over World Cup match between India and Pakistan will now take place on October 14 rather than October 15. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given its nod to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the schedule alteration.
It has also been learned that Pakistan’s match against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad has been moved, in addition to their match against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The game has been moved up a few days to October 10 from October 12, which was originally on the schedule.
The India-Pakistan game’s scheduled date was first mentioned in this publication as being likely to be moved since it would fall on the first day of the Gujarat’s fervently observed Navratri holiday.
The amended timetable would offer Pakistan three days instead of the initial two days between their matches against Sri Lanka and India. It is believed that Sri Lanka Cricket has approved of the proposed change to the match.
Pakistan’s next match will be on October 20 in Bengaluru against Australia after the match with India.
After their initial World Cup match against South Africa on October 7 in Delhi, Sri Lanka would have a short turnaround. On October 16, they are slated to play Australia in Lucknow following their match against Pakistan.
The hosts will now have three days instead of four before the Pakistan match following the game against Afghanistan on October 11 in Delhi. India’s next match is on October 19 against Bangladesh at Pune.
October 14 currently includes three games on the new schedule. Aside from the match between India and Pakistan, the day game between Bangladesh and New Zealand is in Chennai, and the afternoon match between the defending champions, England, and Afghanistan is in Delhi.
The India-Pakistan game may be postponed or have its times altered, but it won’t be shifted from Ahmedabad, according to BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s statement from last week. He had also mentioned that other competitions might also undergo changes due to requests from some member boards to alter three or four fixtures.
“Two or three member boards have asked for a modification to the schedule, and it’s their right to do so. We are collaborating with the ICC on it. The locations won’t alter because doing so would present numerous logistical difficulties. What we are trying to do is reduce the number of days a team has between games from six to five, and increase the number of days a team has between games from two to three. At a World Cup, teams should have enough time to travel, rest, and train in between matches, Shah had told reporters last week.
The BCCI secretary said it was a job to be coordinated between the logistical departments of the Indian board and the ICC but declined to specify which games would be rescheduled.
But because of the new date, supporters who have already made travel arrangements for the game—for which tickets sell out in a matter of hours and generate record-breaking TRPs for broadcasters—will face a logistical headache.
According to reports from Ahmedabad, all homestay choices have been used up and most hotels are already overbooked for mid-October. Additionally, a rise in airfare is anticipated. Following the announcement of the revised date for the India-Pakistan game, massive cancellations and irrational bookings are expected.
The Indian board is now planning to sell World Cup tickets online soon, with less than two months till the game kicks off.
