ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan wary of Afghan spinners, not keen to play them in Chennai | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Pakistan cricket team has expressed reservations about playing certain participating teams at specific venues during the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. This includes concerns about facing Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia in Bengaluru.
Following the resolution of the deadlock over the Asia Cup hosting, Pakistan is now expected to travel to India for the World Cup scheduled for October-November.The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is likely to take place in Ahmedabad on October 15.
Before finalizing the World Cup schedule, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought input from member boards, including the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), regarding the proposed itinerary.
A reliable source within the PCB informed PTI that the board’s data, analytics, and team strategy experts have been tasked with evaluating the venues where the ICC and BCCI have tentatively planned Pakistan’s matches for this major 50-over tournament.
“The PCB sent the tentative itinerary for the team to the selectors/experts who apparently are not comfortable with some of the Pakistan team’s scheduled matches and venues like they have reservations on Pakistan playing Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia at Bengaluru,” the source said.

If Pakistan were to play against Afghanistan in the spin-friendly conditions of Chennai, they would have to contend with formidable players like Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, who showcased their skills for the Gujarat Titans in the 2023 Indian Premier League.

On the other hand, Bengaluru is known for its batting-friendly conditions, making it perplexing why Pakistan would have reservations about facing Australia at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
According to the PCB source, the selectors, who are also part of the team management, have advised the board against accepting Chennai as the venue for the match against Afghanistan. Their concern stems from the historical and statistical evidence that Chennai has favored spinners in the past.
“The suggestion is to ask the ICC/BCCI to reschedule Pakistan’s matches and play Afghanistan in Bengaluru and Australia in Chennai to the team’s strength,” the source claimed.
However, a BCCI source said the ICC asking members for suggestions on the itinerary is part of the protocol and there has to be a strong reason for the venues to be changed.
“A member board can push for a venue change due to safety reasons like Pakistan did in 2016 when they travelled India for the T20 World Cup. If you start expressing reservations over a venue as per your team’s strengths and weaknesses on the field, then it becomes very tough to finalise the schedule.
“So unless there is a strong enough reason, no changes are made as far as the venues are concerned,” said the source referring to the Indo-Pak contest in 2016 when the game was shifted to Kolkata from Dharamsala.
Last month, the PCB announced a new look national selection committee which for the first time had a secretary, manager analytics and team strategy for the national side in Hassan Cheema while also including Mickey Arthur, who is the national men’s team’s director, and head coach Grant Bradburn.
Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed has said that in a bid to embrace the requirements of modern day cricket the selectors would be depending heavily on data and analytics to develop a team strategy before any match.
Asked about whether Pakistan were willing to play their showpiece match against India at Ahmedabad, the PCB source said it was agreed upon more or less but a final call would come from the government.
Pakistan team’s initial two qualifying matches are slated in Hyderabad for October 6 and 12.
The other venues where Pakistan are expected to play in are Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

(With inputs from PTI)