Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Aug 2: The India – Pakistan Cricket World Cup match to be played at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad in all probability will be advanced by a day to October 14 from October 15 due to security reasons, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources said on Wednesday.
The Ahmedabad police had earlier requested the BCCI for re-scheduling the October 15 India – Pakistan match as it clashed with the first day of the Navratri festivals, a major event of dance and religious ceremonies in Gujarat. The police had expressed its inability to deploy adequate forces for manning the sensitive match in view of its pre-engagement to maintain law and order during the nine nights of festivities.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the BCCI had approached the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the rescheduling of two of its group matches including the one against India in Ahmedabad. The ICC will soon release an updated schedule as apparently few other games involving other teams would also be rescheduled.
According to sources, consequent to the advancing of its match against Indian by a day, Pakistan will also play Sri Lanka on October 10 instead of October 12 in Hyderabad which will facilitate a three-day gap before the India game.
The re-scheduling of the games would need change of travel plans for the fans as the India – Pakistan game will not move out of the Narendra Modi Stadium. With the hotel fares going through the roof, it was reported earlier this month that the passionate fans who will be flying in from all around the world have resorted to booking hospital beds in the city.
India play their opening World Cup game against Australia in Chennai on October 8 while Pakistan’s first two games have been scheduled in Hyderabad on October 6 and October 12.
Advancing the Indo-Pak game by a day might also impact the Babar Azam-led side, which will get a day less to prepare for the high-profile clash.
The report also added that the BCCI secretary Jay Shah has written to associations hosting World Cup matches, asking them to attend a meeting in New Delhi on July 27. During the meeting, the board will discuss the concerns with other boards and take a call on when and where the Indo-Pak match would be taking place.
“I feel it will be in the best interest of all concerned that we meet again to exchange notes and take stock of any issue which needs discussion and decision. Accordingly, you are hereby requested to attend a meeting of the World Cup hosting associations,” the letter reportedly read.
Mass cancellations of hotel and flight bookings could be in place if the date for the match gets changed.