According to sources familiar with the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed a preference for playing most of its matches in the Indian cities of Chennai and Kolkata during the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup. The PCB reportedly feels these two cities are the safest for the team based on previous tours. The tournament is scheduled to take place across 12 Indian cities, with the final to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Discussions are ongoing at the ICC level to finalize the itinerary, with the final version set to be released in the coming months.
One of the potential sticking points in the itinerary is the much-anticipated match between India and Pakistan. It is possible that this match may need to be held in a venue other than Ahmedabad due to the stadium hosting the final. Each team is scheduled to play nine games during the league stage of the tournament, with the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) working together to create a final itinerary that allows fans across India and other regions to plan their travel accordingly.
Security is a major concern for both the BCCI and the Indian government, particularly in light of previous incidents involving the Pakistani cricket team. Although the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan was played at Mohali, which allowed fans to travel from across the border, the city is not included among the 12 venues selected by the BCCI. Additionally, in 1996, the quarter-final was held in Bengaluru.
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The ICC Events Committee is currently in talks with the PCB officials to finalize the itinerary with a focus on ensuring the safety of all teams involved. While the PCB has previously rejected the idea of playing World Cup matches in Bangladesh, there has been no official proposal made by the board for a “hybrid model.”
