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‘Hawa nikaal gayi kya?’ - Fans react as Indian Cricket Board reportedly not to entertain Pakistan’s request of changing venues in 2023 ODI World Cup

Here is how fans have reacted to the reports of Indian Cricket Board's unwillingness to entertain Pakistan's request of changing WC venues

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Najam Sethi and Jay Shah

Najam Sethi and Jay Shah (Image Source: Twitter)

The 2023 ODI World Cup is all set to take place in India later this year. As per recent reports, Pakistan will face India at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 15 October. They will face Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai. But, recent reports came out that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are not happy with the venues.

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Reports suggested that they want to swap the venues as they do not want to play in a spinning-friendly pitch of Chennai against Afghanistan, a side with quality spinners like Noor Ahmad, Rashid Khan, and Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman. So, they are looking to play Australia in Chennai while facing Afghanistan in Bengaluru. Even, they do not want to face the Men in Blue, in Ahmedabad, citing security concerns.

During the 2016 20-20 World Cup, India vs Pakistan got shifted from Dharamsala to Kolkata

A close source to the PCB said: “The PCB sent the tentative itinerary for the team to the selectors/experts who apparently are not comfortable with some of the Pakistan team’s scheduled matches and venues like they have reservations on Pakistan playing Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia at Bengaluru. The suggestion is to ask the Apex Council of Cricket/Indian Cricket Board to reschedule Pakistan’s matches and play Afghanistan in Bengaluru and Australia in Chennai to the team’s strength.” In 2016, Pakistan requested a change in venue when they came to India for the 20-20 World Cup as their clash with India was earlier scheduled in Dharamsala. 

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Later, due to safety reasons, it got shifted to Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Regarding it, a close source to the Indian Cricket Board said: “A member board can push for a venue change due to safety reasons like Pakistan did in 2016 when they travelled India for the T20 World Cup. If you start expressing reservations over a venue as per your team’s strengths and weaknesses on the field, then it becomes very tough to finalise the schedule. So unless there is a strong enough reason, no changes are made as far as the venues are concerned.” But, now as per reports by PTI, the Indian Cricket Board are in no mood to entertain the request from PCB to change the venues for the World Cup.

Here is how fans have reacted: 

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