Just 10 days after ICC’s announcement of the revised Men’s ODI World Cup schedule, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is facing a significant challenge. The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has requested a change in the fixture involving Pakistan’s matches.
The revised schedule, unveiled by the ICC recently, brought about nine major changes, including rescheduling the high-stakes India-Pakistan encounter. However, the HCA’s request has now thrown a new curveball into the mix. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad was set to host three league-stage matches, including two involving the Netherlands and Pakistan.
One of the changes made to the original schedule involved advancing the Pakistan-Sri Lanka match from October 12 to October 10, allowing Pakistan more preparation time before their clash with India on October 14. However, this adjustment created a security concern, as back-to-back matches were planned for the venue, with New Zealand taking on the Netherlands on October 9, followed by Pakistan versus Sri Lanka on the following day.
The Hyderabad Police highlighted potential security risks associated with hosting consecutive matches, particularly emphasizing the need for proper security arrangements for the Pakistan game. In response, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) officially requested the BCCI to introduce a longer gap between the two matches to ensure adequate security measures.
Interestingly, the HCA expressed surprise that the change in dates was not communicated to them by the BCCI heads. Instead, they were informed of the scheduling change by the Hyderabad Police, who shared their concerns about providing sufficient security for the consecutive matches.
Given the sensitivity around security matters, the BCCI faces a complex decision. The organization has already revised the World Cup schedule nine times due to security issues in Ahmedabad and Kolkata. Balancing the logistical challenges of accommodating the HCA’s request while ensuring the safety of players, officials, and spectators will be a crucial task for the BCCI.
As the countdown to the World Cup continues, all eyes are now on how the BCCI will address the HCA’s request and whether they will consider yet another modification to the fixture to maintain security and the integrity of the tournament.
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