LAHORE , May 5, 2023: Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium is all set to host the high-voltage encounter between India and Pakistan in the ICC 50-over World Cup.
Only seven venues will host India’s league matches, with Ahmedabad being the only venue where India could play two matches, provided the team reaches the final. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Bangladesh might play most of their matches in Chennai, Bengaluru, Guwahati, and Kolkata, respectively.
This will be the first time since 2016 that the two arch-rivals will face each other on Indian soil. With a seating capacity of 100,000 people, the stadium is the largest in India and has been chosen for overseas matches due to the expected large number of fans.
At the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the BCCI will announce the World Cup schedule in a grand opening. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Oct 5, with Nagpur, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Rajkot, Indore, Bengaluru and Dharamshala being the shortlisted venues for the matches.
The BCCI had consulted the Indian team management to find out their priorities apart from matches with Pakistan. The team had requested the BCCI allocate fixtures against Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa at venues that favour the spinners, as they play slower pitches to maximise their home advantage.
The BCCI had allocated over Rs500 crore to upgrade stadiums across the country ahead of the World Cup.
Upgrading the existing infrastructure, including clean toilets, easy access, and clean seats, was a top priority for the BCCI following recent criticism of the stadium’s condition. .
The state units had already given their wish lists to the BCCI, but the allotment of matches at the venues will be decided by the BCCI. Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium was likely to host India’s match against Australia, while matches against New Zealand, England, and South Africa will be played on slower pitches at other venues.