ODI World Cup 2023: As the commencement of the 50-over World Cup is just around the corner, with merely a month and a half left, and the commencement of ticket sales scheduled to begin in less than a week, there’s yet another plea for a modification in the schedule. This appeal comes from Hyderabad Cricket Association after the initial announcement, which was significantly delayed and had already undergone one change.
Hyderabad Cricket Association raises concern
The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has recently communicated with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to request a gap between two matches that are currently slated to be hosted on consecutive days. The Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Uppal is set to hold the New Zealand-Netherlands match on October 9, followed by the Pakistan-Sri Lanka fixture on the subsequent day. Initially, the latter game was scheduled for October 12, but it was rescheduled to ensure that Pakistan had sufficient time between fixtures after their match against India was moved ahead by a day. Additionally, Hyderabad will also serve as the host for the Pakistan-Netherlands game on October 6.
Hyderabad Police has expressed their concerns regarding the security arrangements for consecutive matches, with particular emphasis on the fixture involving Pakistan. The upcoming World Cup is scheduled to take place in India from October 5 to November 19, and the initial schedule was unveiled with only 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament. In contrast, the final schedules for the last two 50-over World Cups (held in Australia and New Zealand in 2015, and in the United Kingdom in 2019) were disclosed over a year before the respective events.
The initial schedule for the 2023 World Cup has undergone significant revisions, resulting in the rescheduling of nine matches. The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan was initially slotted to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15, coinciding with the commencement of the Navratri festival, a vibrant celebration in Gujarat. The overlapping dates prompted a change in plans, necessitating the game to be moved one day ahead.
Over 3,000 Police staff required for each match
The reason for the Hyderabad Cricket Association’s (HCA) delayed request for a change in dates remains unknown. However, it’s comprehensible that the revised schedule caught them off guard, as no officials or staff from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) consulted with HCA regarding these changes. It was the Hyderabad Police who conveyed their inability to manage the security demands of two consecutive matches, particularly the one involving Pakistan.
The security arrangements requires deploying approximately 3,000 police personnel for each game and maintaining a significant presence at the hotel accommodating the Pakistan team. The police informed the HCA that ensuring adequate security for the Pakistan match could be compromised if the other game (New Zealand vs Netherlands) were to be played on its originally scheduled date.
Fans face difficulty with change in ODI World Cup 2023 schedule
The delays in schedule announcements, subsequent revisions, and the belated commencement of ticket sales have the potential to greatly inconvenience fans who intend to witness matches in person. This impact would be even more pronounced for those traveling from overseas. As the tournament draws nearer, airfares and hotel prices are expected to surge significantly, burdening those who wish to partake in the World Cup experience at various venues.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.
