Pakistan vs New Zealand World Cup Warm-up Game to be Played without Fans
In Hyderabad, due to lack of adequate security
In a startling development, the World Cup warm-up game between Pakistan and New Zealand on September 29 will be played under closed doors, with no fans allowed. The decision has been made due to a lack of adequate security cover stemming from a changed schedule that runs into festivals. The game was originally scheduled to be held at the Rajiv Gandhi international stadium in Hyderabad, but the city police asked the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) to postpone it, as they won’t be able to garner enough security due to the festivals Ganesh Visarjan and Milan-Un-Nabi that culminate on September 28.
Refunds for Ticket Holders
The Indian board has instructed Bookmyshow, the ticketing partner for the World Cup, to refund the money to those who have already booked tickets for the game. “The game will be played without spectators and those who have booked their tickets, their money will be refunded,” a BCCI official confirmed.
Security Concerns
The security agencies had earlier raised concerns over the two back-to-back World Cup 2023 league games scheduled to be held on October 9 and October 10 at the Rajiv Gandhi international cricket stadium in Hyderabad. Around 3,000 police personnel will be deployed for one game, with a large number of police personnel stationed at the hotel where the Pakistan team will be staying.
Changes in the World Cup Schedule
The original itinerary for the 2023 World Cup has already undergone a drastic change, with nine games being rescheduled. The India-Pakistan showdown was initially scheduled on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, but it was brought forward by a day to avoid clashing with the Navratri festival celebrated across Gujarat. The Pakistan-England fixture in Kolkata was also rescheduled from November 12 to November 11 to avoid coinciding with the Kali Puja festival in Bengal. These modifications led to several other games being moved to fit into the revised schedule to ensure teams have a fair gap between fixtures for travel, rest, and training.
