“I highly doubt that the ICC will heed to this request. Maybe if Pakistan have given some valid security reasons, then it might be shifted,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.
The next ODI World Cup 2023 will be held in India and will be held from 5th October to 23rd November. The official schedule for the tournament has yet to be announced, but the main competition is already making headlines.
The World Cup is just months away and the ICC (International Cricket Council) is still awaiting confirmation from the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) of Pakistan’s participation in the tournament. The PCB recently made a bizarre request to the ICC to change venues for two matches being held as part of the World Cup.
As part of the draft fixture list announced a few days ago, Pakistan will face Australia at Bangalore’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium and a few days later against Afghanistan at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. However, PCB requested a change of venue without giving a reason, and Pakistan is reportedly considering starting both games as favorites to win.
Indian veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin also found the same request strange. He spoke out, saying that had PCB cited safety concerns as a reason for the venue change, the ICC might have considered the request further.
“Pakistan itself said in its application that the situation in Chennai would be more favorable to Afghanistan. i doubt it.” Had Pakistan presented some security justification, it might have been possible to postpone.
“There is one more important thing. Pakistan’s interesting desire to change venues. The match schedule is now pitting Pakistan against Australia in Bangalore and Afghanistan in Chennai. They want to change venues. said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
“For security reasons only, the ICC will honor these requests. The 2016 T20 World Cup was due to host India-Pakistan in Dharamsala, but the event was moved to Kolkata for security reasons,” he added.
