Jay Shah confirms World Cup 2023 schedule to see changes after 3 ICC full members raise objection

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could change the date of the marquee India-Pakistan contest scheduled on October 15, although officials maintain the much-awaited World Cup clash will stay in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. That, however, is not the only change in the offing.

“We have received requests from 2-3 ICC member boards participating in the World Cup to make some changes to the schedule,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah told reporters after a meeting with the ten staging associations in Delhi on Thursday. “What’s important for us is we don’t have to make any change in venues.”

What may have prompted the change in date for the India-Pakistan match is it coinciding with the Navaratri festival, widely celebrated in the state. That may become a security headache for police forces. Shah categorically dismissed if the match was being moved for security reasons.

Although no alternate dates have been confirmed yet, it has been learned that efforts are on to stage the match on October 14 so that it does not majorly disrupt the plans of ICC’s commercial partners, vendors, and cricket fans who may have pre-booked hotels and flights to Ahmedabad.

With regards to other changes in schedule, the longer interval between certain matches may be reduced. A final picture of how many changes would require to be made to the original schedule of the 46-day event will only become clear in the next 3-4 days.

Physical tickets to stay

The BCCI made it clear that they will continue to have physical ticketing for the upcoming World Cup. It is learned that the board is unsure if systems are in place to run an e-ticketing exercise in high-capacity stadiums in India.

To ensure fans don’t have to endure the ordeal of standing in long queues, the Indian board is planning to set up multiple ticket-collection points at venues, a week or so before each match. Tickets are likely to go for sale next week, but that can only happen once the reworked schedule is out.

Indian women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur is likely to be quizzed over her poor conduct in the recent Bangladesh ODI by BCCI president Roger Binny and National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman. Whether she would face any further action or will be let off with a reprimand would be known in due course.

The BCCI does not plan to challenge the ICC decision to suspend Kaur for two matches, following four demerit points against her name as ruled by the match referee.