Hyderabad, September 19, 2023 – In an unexpected turn of events, the highly anticipated warm-up match between Pakistan and New Zealand for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will be played behind closed doors in Hyderabad. The decision to ban spectators was made due to security concerns related to two upcoming festivals, Ganesh Visarjan and Milan-Un-Nabi, that culminate on September 28.
City police authorities had initially urged the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) to postpone the match, citing their inability to provide adequate security personnel due to the festive commitments. However, with the match schedule already changed once, the organizers were left with no choice but to deny entry to spectators for the upcoming contest.
The security agencies had previously raised concerns about the two back-to-back World Cup 2023 league games scheduled to be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. The match on October 9 will feature New Zealand against the Netherlands, and the game on October 10 will involve Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Reports suggest that approximately 3,000 police personnel will be deployed for a single game, with a significant number stationed at the hotel where the Pakistan team will be accommodated.
Additionally, the rescheduling of major matches in the Cricket World Cup 2023 has become necessary to accommodate various festivals. The highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match, one of the marquee events of the tournament, has been moved from its original date of October 15 to October 14 due to the first day of the ‘Navratri’ festival.
In another adjustment, the Pakistan vs. England fixture, which was originally scheduled for November 12 in Kolkata, has been shifted to November 11. This change was made to avoid a clash with the Kali Puja, a significant festival in Bengal.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is set to kick off with a clash between defending champions England and New Zealand on October 5 in Ahmedabad. The safety and security of players and fans during these major cricket events continue to be a top priority for organizers and local authorities. Refunds will be provided to those who had purchased tickets for the Pakistan vs. New Zealand warm-up match in Hyderabad, which will now be played without spectators.
