The upcoming ICC 50-over World Cup match between India and Pakistan is expected to take take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad this October-November.
This marks the first time that the two rival teams will face each other on Indian soil since 2016. The stadium, which has a seating capacity of 100,000, is the largest in India and has been chosen due to the expected high number of fans traveling from abroad for the game.
Once the Indian Premier League (IPL) concludes, the BCCI is expected to reveal the schedule for the upcoming World Cup in a grand launch. The tournament will begin on October 5, and matches are planned to take place in Nagpur, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Rajkot, Indore, Bengaluru, and Dharamshala.
Out of these venues, only seven will host India’s league matches, with Ahmedabad being the only possible location for India to play two matches if they make it to the final. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Bangladesh may have most of their matches in Chennai, Bengaluru, Guwahati, and Kolkata, respectively.
The BCCI has sought input from the Indian team management on their preferred match locations, excluding the game with Pakistan. The team has requested that fixtures against Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa be held in venues with slow pitches that favor spinners, as they want to take advantage of their home turf.
The state units have submitted their venue preferences to the BCCI, but the final decision on the allotment of matches will rest with the BCCI. There is a high likelihood that India’s match against Australia will take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, while games against New Zealand, England, and South Africa will be held at other venues with slow pitches.
The BCCI has allocated over Rs. 500 crore to upgrade stadiums across the country in preparation for the World Cup. Improving existing infrastructure, including restroom facilities, ease of access, and clean seating arrangements, is a top priority for the BCCI following recent criticism regarding the condition of stadiums.
