Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has disputed rumors that the ICC World Cup 2023 match between Pakistan and India has been delayed owing to security concerns.
The India-Pakistan match in Ahmedabad could be played on October 14 rather than October 15.
Previously, media sources indicated that the possibility of changing the tournament’s most anticipated game was owing to the fact that it fell on the first day of Navratri, a festival celebrated with widespread participation across Gujarat.
Security authorities had asked the BCCI to change the itinerary in light of the event, citing an inability to provide necessary security.
However, Jay dismissed the reports.
“If security was a concern, why would the match be held there [in Ahmedabad]?” [October] 14-15 is not the issue. Two or three boards have written in, requesting a change due to logistical issues.
“There are some matches where there is only a two-day gap, so it will be difficult to play and then travel the next day [and then play again],” Shah remarked on Thursday after a BCCI meeting in Delhi.
“As much as possible, we are considering not changing the venue or the matches.” It is critical that the venue not be changed.
“Teams with six-day gaps between matches are trying to reduce it to four to five days, and those with two-day gaps are trying to increase it to three days.”
Shah also acknowledged that certain full members had requested that the schedule of some of the mega event’s matches be changed.
“There is a chance that there will be a few changes to the schedule.” Several Full Member countries have written to request that two or three dates in the schedule be changed. We’re negotiating with the ICC, and we should be able to clear it in two or three days,” he said.
