The venue of the India-Pakistan ODI World Cup match has been rumoured for several months and is yet to be finalised. There were reports that an Indian Cricket Board official confirmed that the schedule for the much-awaited 2023 World Cup is nearing its finalisation and will be released in a couple of days.
Earlier, the governing body of Indian cricket had proposed the India vs Pakistan match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had opposed it. Following that, Chennai was rumoured to host the high-voltage clash. However, amid these developments, the Motera Stadium is back on the scene as a new report suggests IND vs PAK match will be played there.
The reason behind the delay in announcing the 2023 World Cup schedule, which is set to be held in India later this year, is a dispute between the India and Pakistan cricket boards. It all started when India refused to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup and 2023 Champions Trophy citing security concerns. PCB Chairman Najam Sethi has also hinted that they will boycott the WC if the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) does not consider its hybrid model of hosting the Asia Cup.
This is one way to make sure we don’t come to India: Najam Sethi
Last month, reacting to reports that Pakistan would play in Ahmedabad, Sethi slammed the Indian Cricket Board saying it was a way to make sure we don't come to India. “When I heard that the Pakistan match was to be in Ahmedabad, I smiled and said to myself – ‘this is one way to make sure we don’t come to India’. I mean if you’d said Chennai or Kolkata, it might have made sense.”
“I don’t want to go into the politics of it but certainly there seems to be a political angle to this because if there’s one city where we might have security issues, it’s Ahmedabad. And therefore, I think the less said about that, the better. It gave the impression that this was a red herring that was thrown our way to tell us, ‘Hey, we are going to play you in Ahmedabad and you watch out. You know who rules Ahmedabad,” the PCB chief added.
Here's how fans reacted to the latest rumours of Narendra Modi Stadium hosting the IND vs PAK match:
Shubman Gill Ka Stadium 😲😲
— ~Waheed 🇵🇰 (@Wah33dKhann) June 11, 2023
Le shubhman gill 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hSRjhH77NR
— 🚩🚩🅡︎🅘︎🅢︎🅗︎🅘︎🚩🚩 (@Rishi_rajput24) June 11, 2023
Every day, there is a new venue and a new rumour. We should wait for an official announcement.
— 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞 (@CallMeSheri1) June 11, 2023
Please ask authority to make some proper drainage system in the stadium plus ask them to purchase one hover cover ..
— Dr Jitumoni Baishya (@Jitumoni28) June 11, 2023
Why is Narendra Modi stadium the only stadium left in India to host important matches? Why not Eden Gardens with the same capacity?
— Sumeet Rewari (@sumsrewari) June 11, 2023
Haa sab matches wahi rakhdo ❤️do
— H🌊RIZØN #WTCfinals version (@Horizoned2) June 11, 2023
Nahi khelenge nahi khelenge 🤣🤣
— Naveen (@_naveenish) June 11, 2023
fans waiting for ICC Cricket World Cup Schedule be like: pic.twitter.com/vm2fXSfMuJ
— Mostly Cricket (@BoliMocr) June 11, 2023
Bc abbi kal tak chennai kehra tha
— Kohlified. (@123perthclassic) June 11, 2023
They can easily reach Karachi after loosing the match.
— Mr.PsyCho✨ (@Psychotvts) June 11, 2023