World Cup: Pak-NZ Warm-up Match To Have No Spectators After Security Agencies’ Advice

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced that the warm-up match between Pakistan and New Zealand before the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 will be conducted without spectators present.

This decision is a result of recommendations from local security authorities in Hyderabad, the designated venue for the match, which align with the ongoing festivals in the vicinity. These festivals are anticipated to attract large crowds, making it imperative to exercise caution and hold the match behind closed doors.

In an official statement, the BCCI stated, “The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 warm-up match between New Zealand and Pakistan, originally scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on September 29, will now be played behind closed doors based on advice from local security agencies. This decision is in light of the festivities in Hyderabad on the same day, which are expected to draw significant gatherings. Spectators who purchased tickets for the game will be refunded in full.”

This match stands as the first warm-up game for Pakistan as they gear up for the main tournament. Following this, Pakistan’s second warm-up match is set to take place on Tuesday, October 3, against Australia.

On the same day as Pakistan’s match against New Zealand, two other warm-up games are on the agenda. Bangladesh will lock horns with Sri Lanka in Guwahati, and South Africa will compete against Afghanistan in Thiruvananthapuram. Both these fixtures are anticipated to have spectators in attendance.

The warm-up matches for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 will conclude on October 3, just prior to the commencement of the main tournament on October 5. Pakistan’s inaugural match in the tournament is slated against the Netherlands on October 6.

The scheduling of the 2023 World Cup faced logistical hurdles due to the presence of festivals attracting large gatherings. Several matches had to be rescheduled after the initial tournament schedule was released due to security concerns related to overlapping with public festivities. A notable reschedule was the highly anticipated India-Pakistan fixture, originally planned for October 15 in Ahmedabad, which was moved to October 14 to prevent a conflict with the commencement of Navratri, a nine-day annual festival in Gujarat.