- Thursday, April 24, 2025
The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is likely to be held in Ahmedabad on October 15.
By: India Weekly Staff
THE PAKISTAN cricket team has expressed their discomfort with playing certain teams at specific venues during the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. Particularly, they have reservations about playing against Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia in Bengaluru. However, the deadlock over the Asia Cup staging has been resolved, and Pakistan is now expected to travel to India for the World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in October-November. The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is likely to be held in Ahmedabad on October 15.
Before announcing the World Cup schedule, the International Cricket Council (ICC) sought suggestions from member boards, including the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), regarding the proposed itinerary. A reliable source within the PCB told PTI that the board’s data, analytics, and team strategy experts have been tasked with approving the venues where Pakistan’s matches are tentatively scheduled for the 50-over mega event.
The source explained that the selectors and team management are not comfortable with some of the scheduled matches and venues for the Pakistan team. They have concerns about playing Afghanistan in Chennai, which is known for its spin-friendly conditions, as it would mean facing formidable spinners like Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, who performed well for the Gujarat Titans in the recent Indian Premier League. Additionally, it is puzzling why Pakistan would hesitate to play against Australia at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, a venue known for being favorable to batsmen. The selectors and team management have advised the PCB to request a rescheduling of the matches so that Pakistan can face Afghanistan in Bengaluru and Australia in Chennai, aligning the venues with the team’s strengths.
However, a source within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) clarified that the ICC’s request for venue suggestions is a standard protocol, and changes can only be made for compelling reasons, such as safety concerns. The source referred to an incident in 2016 when Pakistan requested a venue change due to safety reasons during the T20 World Cup. Expressing reservations based solely on a team’s strengths and weaknesses on the field would make it challenging to finalise the schedule.
Recently, the PCB announced a new national selection committee that includes experts in analytics and team strategy, reflecting their efforts to embrace the requirements of modern-day cricket. The selectors plan to heavily rely on data and analytics to develop a team strategy before each match.
Regarding the much-anticipated match against India, the PCB source mentioned that playing in Ahmedabad is mostly agreed upon, but the final decision rests with the government. Pakistan’s initial two qualifying matches are scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on October 6 and 12. The other venues where Pakistan is expected to play include Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad.
(With agency inputs)
