The much-anticipated schedule for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, set to take place in India, will be disclosed around the time of the Test Championship final, according to a senior official. It is indeed unusual that the dates and venues for the 50-over showpiece event, expected to be held in October-November, have not yet been announced.
The primary cause for the delay revolves around finding a solution to accommodate Pakistan in the tournament. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently working on a plan to play against their arch-rivals and hosts of the Asia Cup, Pakistan, at a neutral venue in September. Pakistan has threatened to boycott the World Cup if India refuses to participate in the Asia Cup.
In the meanwhile, the final match of the Test Championship, which will feature India and Australia, will take place from June 7th to 11th at the Oval, which is likely to be the venue where the announcement regarding the World Cup will be made.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah stated in a press release following a meeting on the eve of the Indian Premier League final in Ahmedabad, “The venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will be decided at a press conference during the ICC World Test Championship Final. The complete schedule for the tournament will also be revealed.” He further added that major cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata are being considered as potential venues for the tournament.
The fate of the Asia Cup is expected to be determined on the sidelines of the IPL final between the Chennai Super Kings and the reigning champions, the Gujarat Titans. Shah, who also serves as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has invited the presidents of the cricket boards of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka to the IPL final, where they will discuss the details of the tournament.
“The future of the Asia Cup 2023 will be decided once we have a meeting with the ACC members, including the Test-playing nations and the Associate nations,” Shah stated.
India and Pakistan, two cricketing powerhouses and arch-rivals, have not played each other on home soil in any format of the game since 2012. Their encounters are limited to multinational tournaments on neutral grounds.
Cricket enthusiasts worldwide eagerly anticipate the announcement of the World Cup’s dates, venues, and the resolution of the issues surrounding Pakistan’s participation. The forthcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 promises to be an exciting event that will showcase the world’s finest cricketing talent competing on the grand stage.