India-Pakistan clash in ICC World Cup to be held in Ahmedabad
Sunday, 7 May 2023
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is set to host the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan match in the International Cricket Council (ICC) 50-over World Cup this October-November, according to Pakistani news channel Geo Tv.
This will be the first time the two arch-rivals face each other on Indian soil since 2016. With a seating capacity of 100,000, the stadium is the largest in India and has been selected in anticipation of a large number of fans expected to travel from abroad for the fixture.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to announce the World Cup schedule at a grand launch once the Indian Premier League (IPL) concludes. The tournament is set to kick off on October 05, with venues in Nagpur, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Rajkot, Indore, Bengaluru, and Dharamshala shortlisted for matches.
However, only seven venues will host India's league matches, with Ahmedabad being the only venue where India could play two matches provided the team makes it to the final.
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Bangladesh could play most of their matches in Chennai, Bengaluru, Guwahati, and Kolkata, respectively.
The BCCI has consulted with the Indian team management to seek their preferences for the matches apart from the one with Pakistan. The team has requested the BCCI to allot fixtures against Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa to venues that aid spinners, as they prefer slow pitches to maximise their home advantage.