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.
World Cup 2023: PAKISTAN vs INDIA
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 an issue, why would the match go there [to Ahmedabad]? [October] 14-15 is not the problem. Two or three boards have written in, asking to change based on the logistical challenges.
“There are some matches where there is only a two-day gap, so it will be difficult to play and then travel next day [and then play again],” Shah said after a BCCI meeting in Delhi on Thursday.
Official Statement
“As far as possible, we are looking at not changing the venue as well as the matches. Not changing the venue is very important.
“Teams which have six-day gaps between matches, we are trying to reduce it to four-five days; and those that have just two-day gaps, we are trying to increase to three days.”
“If security was an issue, why would the match go there [to Ahmedabad]? [October] 14-15 is not the problem. Two or three boards have written in, asking to change based on the logistical challenges.
“There are some matches where there is only a two-day gap, so it will be difficult to play and then travel next day [and then play again],” Shah said after a BCCI meeting in Delhi on Thursday.
“As far as possible, we are looking at not changing the venue as well as the matches. Not changing the venue is very important.
“Teams which have six-day gaps between matches, we are trying to reduce it to four-five days; and those that have just two-day gaps, we are trying to increase to three days.”
