ODI World Cup: Worried about Afghanistan spinners, Pakistan does not want to play in Chennai
New Delhi. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not “comfortable” about playing against certain teams in certain venues during the ODI World Cup in India, including against Afghanistan in Chennai and against Australia in Bengaluru. The impasse over the holding of the Asia Cup has ended and Pakistan is expected to visit India for the World Cup to be held in October-November. The much-awaited encounter between India and Pakistan is likely to take place in Ahmedabad on October 15. Before announcing the World Cup schedule, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought suggestions from all member boards, including the PCB, on the proposed schedule.
A reliable source in the PCB told PTI that the board’s statistics, analyst and team strategy specialist has been tasked with approving the venues where the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have decided to host matches against Pakistan during the prestigious 50-over tournament. A tentative program of the matches has been prepared. “The PCB has sent the team’s tentative schedule to the selectors/experts who are probably not comfortable with the schedule and venue of some of the Pakistan team’s matches,” the source said. Like they have objections to playing Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia in Bengaluru.
Playing Afghanistan on a spin-friendly pitch in Chennai means that Pakistan will have to face spinners like Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed, who have done well for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2023. The Bangalore pitch is generally batting friendly and it is difficult to understand why Pakistan have any objection to playing Australia at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. A PCB source said the selectors have advised the board not to accept Chennai as the venue against Afghanistan as it is a venue which is historically and statistically favorable to spinners.
“The board’s suggestion is to ask the ICC/BCCI to reschedule Pakistan’s matches and play Afghanistan in Bengaluru and Australia in Chennai according to the strength of the team,” the source claimed. The source said that it is part of protocol for the ICC to seek suggestions from members on the venue and there should be a solid reason for the change of venue. The source said, “The member boards can ask for a change of venue due to security reasons like Pakistan did in 2016 when they came to India for the T20 World Cup. If you start objecting to the venue according to the strong and weak sides of your team, then it will be extremely difficult to finalize the schedule.
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“Therefore, there is no change of venue unless there is a strong enough reason,” he said. The sources were referring to the shifting of the India-Pakistan match in the 2016 T20 World Cup from Dharamsala to Kolkata. Last month, the PCB announced a new national selection committee, which for the first time included Hasan Cheema as national team secretary, management analyst and team strategist, while national men’s team director Mickey Arthur and head coach Grand Bradburn were also included in it. Are included. When asked about Pakistan agreeing to play the World Cup tie against India in Ahmedabad, a PCB source said that it has almost been agreed upon but the final decision will be taken by the government.Pakistan has to play its two opening matches in Hyderabad on October 6 and 12. Apart from this, Pakistan is expected to play in Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Ahmedabad.
