NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2023 ODI schedule is set to undergo more modifications after “several Full Member countries” raised concerns about certain fixtures. The announcement was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah, confirming that the schedule for the highly anticipated tournament, to be held in India from October 5, will be revised.
The developments come merely a month after the BCCI and ICC revealed the long-awaited schedule for the event, scheduled to kick off at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Among the complaints received, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) recently requested the ICC recce team to change the match schedule between Pakistan and England, initially scheduled for November 12. The request was made as the game coincided with the significant Kali Puja festival, the second-largest festival in West Bengal. Due to the festival’s importance, a large police contingent would be deployed across the city to maintain law and order, making it difficult to allocate security personnel for Eden Gardens’ duty.
Security Concerns During ICC World Cup 2023
While CAB President Snehasish Ganguly denied sending the request, Indian media reported that Kolkata Police raised security concerns, prompting the need for a potential rescheduling. A senior CAB office-bearer confirmed the discussions with ICC and BCCI inspection teams, emphasizing the importance of resolving security issues ahead of the match.
Additionally, there were reports of possible changes to the India-Pakistan match, which fell on the first day of Navratri, another significant festival celebrated in Gujarat with mass participation. However, Jay Shah brushed aside those reports, indicating that the match’s venue in Ahmedabad remains unaffected.
Jay Shah revealed that the ICC and BCCI are currently in discussions to accommodate the logistical challenges raised by Full Member countries. Some fixtures with two-day gaps between matches may be altered to provide players with more rest and recovery time, ensuring better performance and minimizing travel fatigue.
“We are working out with the ICC, and we should be able to clear it in two or three days,” Jay Shah said, indicating the ongoing efforts to finalize the revised schedule.
