Reports: India vs Pakistan game to take place in Ahmedabad during ODI World Cup 2023, despite PCB's reluctance

Cricket fans all over the world are waiting for the complete schedule of the ODI World Cup 2023 to be out. The marquee tournament is scheduled to take place in India from October 5. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to release the complete fixtures of the tournament, as the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is yet to finalize its schedule.

The tournament has been also marred in controversy as Pakistan has refused to travel to India due to the latter’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023. However, according to reports, a few updates from the World Cup schedule have come out.

According to Dainik Jagran, the first match of the tournament will be played between New Zealand and the five-time champions, Australia. Pakistan, who were unwilling to play their matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, will play the majority of their matches in Chennai and Hyderabad. However, the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan encounter is going to take place in Ahmedabad.

India’s other big matches such as the one against Australia will take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai. On the other hand, they will lock horns against England in Lucknow, which is set to host five matches during the tournament.

The complete schedule of the event is likely to be released in the upcoming few weeks with two teams yet to be confirmed through the ICC World Cup qualifiers scheduled to begin from June 18 in Zimbabwe.

India to end their trophy drought on their home soil?

Notably, it will be the fourth time that India will host the ODI World Cup, as they’ve earlier hosted the 1987, 1996 and 2011 editions of the tournament. The Men in Blue managed to reach the semi-finals of the 1987 and 1996 editions, while they went on to win the 2011 edition under the leadership of MS Dhoni.

India haven’t won an ICC title for over ten years now since their ICC Champions Trophy triumph in 2013. Hence, the upcoming tournament will be the perfect opportunity for the team to end their trophy drought on their home soil.