Curated By: Aakash Biswas
Last Updated: September 25, 2023, 21:02 IST
PAK vs NZ warm-up game in Hyderabad to be held behind closed doors
The BCCI on Monday stated that the Pakistan vs New Zealand warm-up game will be held behind closed doors as per the advice of the local security agencies
Babar Azam-led Pakistan will square off against New Zealand in their first warm-up game for the ICC World Cup 2023 on September 27 at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. But ahead of the contest, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated that the fixture will be held behind closed doors as per the advice of the local security agencies.
“The match in Hyderabad coincides with festivals on the day and large gatherings are expected around the city. The spectators who bought tickets for the game will receive a full refund,” the BCCI statement read.
It had been learned that Hyderabad Police asked the state cricket association (HCA) that they won’t be able to provide enough security as it will clash with the festivals Ganesh Visarjan and Milan-Un-Nabi that culminate on September 28.
Earlier this month, the Hyderabad Cricket Association requested the cricket board to tweak the schedule as the local police authorities expressed their reservations about deploying adequate personnel on back-to-back match days. However, the BCCI has turned down the appeal as they already made some changes to the schedule recently.
Pakistan’s visa issue resolved
Several media reports stated that the visas of the Pakistan contingent had been delayed, affecting the team’s plan for the World Cup. Babar Azam & Co were supposed to land in Hyderabad via Dubai where a two-day team bonding exercise was planned before travelling to India on September 27. But the bonding trip to Dubai eventually got cancelled as the team members awaited their visas from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
But on Monday, a source within the BCCI confirmed to News 18 Cricketnext that the members of the Pakistan cricket team have been issued visas which they will receive within the next 24 hours.
A total of 33 members of the Pakistan contingent, including players, three travelling reserves and team officials, will be travelling to India for the ICC World Cup 2023.
Pakistan’s warm-up fixtures
After locking horns with New Zealand, Pakistan will face Australia in their second warm-up game on October 3 at the same venue. The men in gree will begin their campaign in the main event against the Netherlands on October 6 in Hyderabad.
