There are reports in the media that Pakistan are likely to play their ODI World Cup 2023 matches in Bangladesh.
After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to hold their matches in the Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue, while the rest of the tournament was scheduled to be held in Pakistan, there were calls from several former players and members of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to boycott the upcoming ODI World Cup, which is set to be hosted by India alone in October-November of this year.
As tensions continue to simmer, the latest report by ESPNCricinfo suggests that Pakistan’s matches in the ODI World Cup 2023 are likely to be held in Bangladesh, while the rest of the tournament will take place in India.
This decision reportedly came out of an Asian Cricket Council meeting, where it was decided that India’s games in the Asia Cup would be held at a neutral venue outside of Pakistan, as proposed by the PCB. However, there has been no confirmation about which neutral venue will be chosen, and the ACC is expected to discuss the matter further in their next meeting.
There are concerns about logistics and financial implications, as well as the potential resistance from the official broadcaster, who may need to set up another crew in a different country.
It’s worth noting that the two countries have not played a bilateral series since 2013 due to political tensions, and only face each other in ICC and ACC tournaments.
Their last meeting was in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup 2022, where India emerged victorious with a stunning 5-wicket win, thanks to an impressive 82-run knock by Virat Kohli.
