LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants Afghanistan replaced with another team for the ICC World Cup warm-up match, local media said, citing sources on Wednesday.
According to sources, the PCB is keen on playing a non-Asian team during the warm-up world cup cricket match since it would already face the Afghan cricket team during the Asia Cup before the World Cup.
The PCB has written a note to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board had requested the World cricket body to change the venue of their world cup matches against Afghanistan and Australia during 2023 cricket World Cup in India.
ESPNcricinfo reported that Pakistan has asked the international cricket governing body to swap venues of the previous matches since it would make them “favourites.” The tentative schedule has Pakistan playing Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia in Bengaluru.
The PCB internal note said, “Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai are the two which we should look to get changed as much as possible,” and “Ideally, we can switch these around. Australia in Chennai and Afghanistan in Bengaluru would make us obvious favourites in both matches.”
The PCB wants to have the match venues changed for all but three of Pakistan’s matches, including the fixture against India on October 15.
Pakistan’s tentative World Cup schedule
October 6 – vs. Qualifier in Hyderabad
October 12 – vs. Qualifier in Hyderabad
October 15 – vs. India in Ahmedabad
October 20 – vs. Australia in Bengaluru
October 23 – vs. Afghanistan in Chennai
October 27 – vs. South Africa in Chennai
October 31 – vs. Bangladesh in Kolkata
November 5 – vs. New Zealand Bengaluru
November 12 – vs. England in Kolkata
