File photo of the ICC World Cup 2023 trophy© X (formerly Twitter)
The 2023 Cricket World Cup warm-up match between Pakistan and New Zealand on September 29 will be played behind closed doors in Hyderabad on the advice of local security forces. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Monday that the match coincided with a local festival and security forces were unsure of the preparations. The BCCI press release also stated that the fans who had already booked tickets for the match will receive a refund due to the cancellation.
“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 warm-up match between New Zealand and Pakistan will take place in Hyderabad on 29e September will now take place behind closed doors, according to the advice of local security services. The match in Hyderabad coincides with festivals on the day and large gatherings are expected in the city. The spectators who purchased tickets for the match will be given a full refund,” BCCI said in the release.
Members of the Pakistan cricket team were granted Indian visas for the Cricket World Cup on Monday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed, hours after the PCB raised serious concerns with the global body over the delay in the national team’s trip to Hyderabad.
The visa approval came less than 48 hours before the scheduled trip from Pakistan to India in the early hours of September 27. They will play their first warm-up match against New Zealand in Hyderabad on September 29.
“Visa have been issued to Pakistan,” an ICC spokesperson told PTI.
However, confusion persisted in the Pakistani camp over the granting of visas.
“We have not yet received a call from the Indian High Commission regarding the visa approval. A member of our team is stationed there,” PCB spokesperson Umar Farooq told PTI.
The ICC’s confirmation came after the PCB wrote to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice on Monday about the visa delay, claiming the anxious wait had negatively affected the team’s preparation for the 50-plus showpiece.
(With PTI inputs)
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