The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have reportedly turned down Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) request for a change in the venues of their 2023 ODI World Cup matches. The PCB had apparently requested them to swap the venues of two of their group-stage fixtures after the BCCI had prepared a draft and sent it to the world cricket governing body for their approval. It is being learnt that PCB wasn't pleased with the schedule.
As per the draft schedule, Pakistan are to play Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia in Bengaluru. However, it is being reported that the PCB wanted the BCCI, who are hosting the tournament, and the ICC to shift the Australia game to Chennai and the Afghanistan one to Bengaluru. However, the request has been declined. The report carried by Cricbuzz has claimed that a venue can only be changed if there are security concerns or the stadium isn't fit to host international cricket matches.
Meanwhile, the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan fixture remains scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Regarded as the largest cricket stadium in the world, the venue will also get to host the tournament opener between last edition's finalists England and New Zealand and also the final of the competition. The India vs Pakistan game is expected to be a full-house with this being the arch-rivals first match between the two countries in India since 2012-13.
Even though the draft schedule is confirmed, an official confirmation is still awaited and the same is expected rom the BCCI and the ICC at an event in Mumbai in the coming days. Notably, this is the first time that India will be the solo host of the tournament with the country having acted as the co-host of the tournament on two previous occasions in 1987 and in 2011.