Web Desk
The dates and venues for this year’s ODI World Cup in India will be announced around the Test championship final, according to a top official. It is unusual that the schedule for the 50-over showpiece event, expected to take place in October-November, has not been announced yet. The main cause of the delay is how to accommodate Pakistan.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is working on a plan to play against arch-rivals Pakistan, who are also the hosts of the Asia Cup, at a neutral venue in September. Pakistan has threatened to boycott the World Cup if India refuses to play in the Asia Cup.
The Test championship final between India and Australia will be held from June 7-11 at the Oval, which is likely to be the venue for the announcement of the World Cup details.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated that the venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and the complete schedule will be decided and revealed during a press conference at the ICC World Test Championship Final. Major cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata are being considered as potential venues for the tournament.
The fate of the Asia Cup is expected to be determined during discussions between the cricket board presidents of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka on the sidelines of the IPL final. Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has invited them to the IPL final to discuss the details of the tournament.
India and Pakistan, being cricketing giants and arch-rivals, have not played each other on home soil in any version of the game since 2012. Their matches are usually limited to multinational tournaments held on neutral grounds.
