Win Projections to be updated soon
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Jay Shah, announced that the schedule for the highly anticipated 2023 World Cup will be revealed during the World Test Championship final at the Oval. The BCCI has compiled a list of over a dozen venues across India, with the final shortlist set to be shared with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the near future.
Shortlisted venues for the World Cup
During a media briefing following the BCCI’s special general meeting in Ahmedabad, Shah provided insights into the preparations for the tournament. Although the ten-team World Cup is scheduled to take place between October 5 and November 19, the BCCI is yet to finalize the schedule, leaving approximately four months before the start of the tournament.
The tournament is expected to feature 48 matches, including three knockout games, spread over a 46-day period. Alongside Ahmedabad, the initial shortlist of cities comprises Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot, Mumbai, and Trivandrum. Additionally, Nagpur and Pune are under consideration. It is likely that league matches will be hosted across ten cities, with two more cities hosting warm-up fixtures preceding the main tournament.
Discussion over Asia Cup as well
Shah, also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), revealed plans for an emergent meeting to discuss the feasibility of the hybrid model proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the 2023 Asia Cup.
Ahead of the IPL final on Sunday, Shah will meet his counterparts from Sri Lanka Cricket, Bangladesh Cricket Board, and Afghanistan Cricket Board to gather informal views on the Asia Cup. While Pakistan is scheduled to host this year’s Asia Cup in September, India’s reluctance to travel there has prompted the ACC to explore alternative options. The PCB recently suggested a hybrid model for the six-team tournament, with four of the 13 matches planned to be held in Pakistan. India and Pakistan find themselves in the same group alongside Nepal, while Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh form the second group.
The primary challenge of the proposed hybrid model revolves around the complexities of travel. Shah confirmed that several countries had submitted their opinions, which will be formally discussed during the upcoming ACC meeting within the next ten days. Expressing his desire as ACC Chairman, Shah emphasized the importance of conducting the Asia Cup this year. Due to political tensions between the two nations, Pakistan and India have not hosted the tournament since 2008.
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