ICC World Cup 2023: ICC Team In India To Inspect Venues Ahead Of Marquee Event

An International Cricket Council (ICC) team is currently in India to conduct reconnaissance ahead of the highly-anticipated ICC World Cup 2023. The tournament is scheduled to be played from October 5 to November 19.

While India have co-hosted the 50-over World Cup thrice in the past, they will host it alone for the first time. In 2016, India had hosted the T20 World Cup alone. ICC World Cup 2023 will be played across ten venues – Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, Dharamsala, and Lucknow.

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These venues will host a total of 48 games played over 46 days. On the other hand, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram in addition to Hyderabad will host the warm-up matches from September 29 to October 3. And with not much time left for the ICC World Cup 2023, a reconnaissance team from the ICC has visited India to take stock of the condition.

According to Cricbuzz, the team comprising security, events, and broadcast experts, has started its assessment at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and is currently in Ahmedabad. The team will visit all the venues including the ones where the warm-up games will be played.

“They are extremely happy with our planning; the only thing left to address from our side is the ticketing issue. We have called an Apex Council meeting on Monday to decide on pricing, and we will inform the BCCI accordingly,” said Amol Kale, the MCA president.

After assessing the Wankhede Stadium, the ICC team visited the Chepauk in Chennai on July 26, the Trivandrum Stadium (the venue for the warm-up games) on July 27, and the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.

“They seemed satisfied with our facilities. We look forward to hearing from them if they have anything in mind. They will write to us,” a TNCA official said. On the other hand, a member of the Kerala Cricket Association has revealed that the reconnaissance team suggested a few modifications for the corporate boxes and player areas at the Trivandrum ground.

The team is currently in Ahmedabad to inspect the Narendra Modi Stadium, the venue for the first and final game of the ICC World Cup 2023. It will also host the high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan. After Ahmedabad, the ICC team will go to Hyderabad on Monday (July 31) before visiting Delhi, Dharamsala, Lucknow, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Pune.

ICC World Cup 2023 schedule likely to be changed:

While the ICC World Cup 2023 just over three months away, the schedule could still undergo minor changes. Last month, the ICC announced the full schedule for the marquee event but recently BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated that the dates could be changed after three ICC members raised objections over the scheduling.

“Three members have written to the ICC for a schedule change. Only the date and timings will be changed, venues will not be changed. If there is a six-day gap between games, we are trying to reduce it to 4-5 days. The picture will be clear in three-four days. Changes will happen in consultation with the ICC,” Shah said earlier this week.

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