The BCCI has effected several changes to the World Cup schedule, barely two months before the start.
The ICC in a media release on Wednesday confirmed that the dates of nine matches have been altered. This was necessary to meet demands arising out of security issues because of festivals during the period.
This includes the big-ticket India-Pakistan fixture in Ahmedabad, which will now be played on October 14 instead of October 15. The match had coincided with the first day of Navratri in the original schedule leading to security issues reportedly raised by local police.
The double-header scheduled for November 12 — Australia vs Bangladesh in Pune and England vs Pakistan at Eden Gardens — will now be held on November 11 after the Cricket Association of Bengal informed its inability to hold the match following security concerns raised by the local police because of Kali Puja.
Pakistan, Bangladesh and England are the most affected. As a result of the date change for the India-Pakistan game, Pakistan’s match against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad has been moved from October 12 to October 10, to allow them an adequate gap before their high-profile clash.
As a result, the Australia-South Africa match in Lucknow has also been brought forward by a day and will take place on October 12 instead of October 13.
The England-Afghanistan tie in Delhi, scheduled for October 14, will now be played on October 15.
New Zealand’s match against Bangladesh in Chennai has been changed from a day game on October 14 to a day-night fixture on October 13. The England-Bangladesh tie in Dharamsala will be held as scheduled on October 10, but it will now be a day game and not a day-night affair.
The league stage of the World Cup will now end with India playing Netherlands in Bangalore on November 12, instead of November 11.
There is no change in the dates for the knockout fixtures. The semi-finals will be played in Mumbai and Calcutta on November 15 and 16, respectively. The final is in Ahmedabad on November 19.
The schedule of the 2023 World Cup was originally released following a delay on June 27, exactly 100 days before the start.
