On October 15, Team India will play their bitter rivals Pakistan at the prestigious ODI World Cup later this year. International Cricket Council (ICC) may have already finalized the schedule and made it available to the public last month, but one of the most famous matches in the tournament this year may see a significant change in the date.
The first day of ‘Navratri’, a holiday celebrated with nightly Garba dance, is October 15, according to a report by Indian Express, and as a result, the match between India and Pakistan may be moved. This is especially true in the Gujarati state, where the festival is held.
India Vs Pakistan World Cup match likely to be rescheduled
The report states that agencies have advised the BCCI to reschedule the game due to security concerns. “We are mulling the options that we have and a decision will be taken soon. We have been told by the security agencies that a high-profile game like India vs Pakistan, for which thousands of travelling fans are expected to reach Ahmedabad, should be avoided since they will be stretched because of Navratri,” a source told the Indian Express.
Many fans have already made travel arrangements for the dates surrounding the India-Pakistan match, and reports from local media have suggested that Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have also enquired about the availability of beds at Ahmedabad hospitals before and after the night game. If the game is indeed postponed, it could prove to be a huge logistical nightmare.
As a result, if the schedule is changed, there will probably be widespread cancellations of hotel reservations. Strangely, there has been no news on ticket sales with just over two months until the tournament’s opening match, which is also set for Ahmedabad and will feature England and New Zealand. This frustrates supporters even more. With the potential for the biggest game of the group stage to be postponed, BCCI might as well get ready for fan backlash on social media.
According to the Indian Express article, BCCI secretary Jay Shah has requested that all hosting venues convene on Thursday, July 27, in New Delhi, when a decision may be made on the India-Pakistan match.
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