Pakistan reluctant to play World Cup match in Mumbai due to security reasons

Mumbai:  The complete schedule for the highly anticipated 2023 World Cup is set to be unveiled on Tuesday in Mumbai. The International Cricket Council (ICC) will reveal the fixtures for the tournament, which is scheduled to kick off in October.

In an interesting development, Mumbai and Kolkata have been chosen as the venues for the semi-final matches of the mega event. However, it has been reported that Pakistan is reluctant to play a World Cup match in Mumbai due to security concerns. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has communicated its reservations to the ICC officials.

Both Wankhede and Eden Gardens have witnessed significant World Cup encounters in the past. Wankhede Stadium hosted the thrilling final of the 2011 World Cup, while Eden Gardens was the venue for the 1987 World Cup final. Now, these two iconic stadiums are set to add to their legacy by hosting the semi-final matches of the 2023 World Cup.

If the Indian cricket team qualifies for the semi-finals, they are likely to play their knockout match in Mumbai. In the event of an India-Pakistan semi-final clash, it is anticipated that the match will take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. If Pakistan qualifies for the semi-finals, they would prefer to play their match in Kolkata.

The decision by Pakistan stems from past security incidents. In 1991, the pitch at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium was vandalized by supporters of the Shiv Sena party, led by the late Hindu leader Bal Thackeray, just days before Pakistan was scheduled to play a one-day series in India. This led to the cancellation of the tour and subsequent tours in 1993 and 1994 due to security fears.

In a similar incident in 1999, around 25 supporters of the Shiv Sena party stormed New Delhi's Feroze Shah Kotla stadium and dug up the pitch ahead of Pakistan's first Test series on Indian soil in 12 years.

Previously, Pakistan had expressed concerns about playing in Ahmedabad due to security reasons. However, after extensive discussions and negotiations between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the PCB, a resolution was reached. The BCCI agreed to accept the PCB's proposed hybrid model for the Asia Cup, resulting in the arch-rivals expected to face off at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15.

Initially, Bengaluru and Chennai were assigned as the venues for the two semi-finals in the draft schedule. However, a meeting between top BCCI officials and state association representatives in Mumbai on Monday led to a change in the decision. As a result, both semi-finals will now be hosted at the iconic Wankhede and Eden Gardens stadiums.

Earlier this month, the PCB had requested a venue swap for their matches against Afghanistan and Australia. They sought to move their match against Australia to Chennai and their match against Afghanistan to Bengaluru. The PCB's concern revolved around the spinning conditions in Chennai, which could pose challenges for the Pakistani team in their game against Afghanistan, known for their skilled slow bowlers. However, the BCCI rejected the PCB's requests, maintaining the original venue allocations made by the ICC.