Hyderabad Cricket Association wants Pakistan-New Zealand warm-up game to be rescheduled

The organisation of the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 continues to run into various problems, with the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) posing the latest one. Ahead of the World Cup, Pakistan and New Zealand are all set to face off against one another in a warm-up game on September 29 in Hyderabad.

However, the HCA has now come forward to demand the postponement of the same game due to security reasons. The demand comes as a result of the security agencies’ admittance to not being able to provide proper security on the day of the clash due to Ganesh Visarjan and Milad-Un-Nabi, which happen to be on September 28. 

According to a report by the Indian Express, various questions over security availability were asked about the back-to-back World Cup league stage matches in Hyderabad on October 9 and 10. In an email to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), the HCA raised the problems, and the plea came after the tickets for the warm-up games went on sale.

Despite no official communication by the BCCI, it is worth noting that the local authorities have informed the HCA that they will not be available to provide security to one of the games that is scheduled for October 9 or 10.

New Zealand take on the Netherlands on October 9, whereas Pakistan and Sri Lanka go face-to-face on October 10. The large amount of security required for the Pakistan game is one of the biggest reasons the local authorities posed a problem.

About 3000 police personnel will be deployed for one of the matches, with another batch posted at the hotel where Pakistan’s squad will be staying. If the clash between New Zealand and the Netherlands is played on the scheduled date, it could be close to impossible for security to be present on October 10. 

However, despite the HCA’s constant reminder and requests to change the schedule, the BCCI decided to go ahead with the plan as scheduled.