The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been consistent in its position that it will not tour India until the BCCI agrees to hold the Asia Cup in Pakistan. However, the Indian media has reported that Pakistan is set to play World Cup matches in Chennai and Kolkata.
Pakistan played India in a T20 World Cup match at Kolkata in 2016, and the players were pleased with the level of security. For Pakistan, Chennai will always be a special place. Additionally, it pertains to feeling secure in particular environments.
On October 5, the World Cup is anticipated to begin. A total of 46 games are scheduled to take place in 12 Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, Rajkot, Bengaluru, Delhi, Indore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, and Dharamshala.
The Cricket World Cup in India is expected to begin in six months, but geopolitics are obscuring the lead-up to the major event. The tournament’s fixture schedule is still unknown.
The Pakistan cricket team may want to play the majority of its games during the ODI World Cup 2023 in Chennai and Kolkata, according to recent claims from Indian media. Pakistan is expected to feel at ease playing in these two cities because they were chosen as secure locations for the squad during prior visits. This is a departure from past reports that claimed Pakistan would play their World Cup games in Bangladesh.
Pakistan would prefer to play the majority of its World Cup matches in Kolkata and Chennai, according to an Indian source. “A lot will depend on what BCCI and the Indian government decide,” the source added.
A decision is anticipated to be made in the best interest of all competing teams and is currently being discussed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Since ACC has already committed to host India’s matches outside of Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the PCB has already advised the ICC to hold the matches at a neutral location.
Noting that the PCB has made it plain that Pakistan is unwilling to play in India if India does not travel Pakistan for the Asia Cup, it is important to note that the ICC will need to negotiate this delicate subject with care.
