The drama regarding the schedule of the World Cup 2023 continues to frustrate the fans, who are the biggest stakeholders for any cricketing event in the country.
The reports of the BCCI looking to change the India-Pakistan match date, currently slated for October 15, were all but confirmed by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah on Thursday. Jay Shah made a couple of other important announcements over the decisions taken regarding the World Cup 2023 schedule and the facilities for the fans in the stadiums.
The World Cup 2023 schedule was officially released on June 27, just three months ahead of the tournament that will start in October. This was already a severely delayed schedule release; in comparison, the schedule for the 2015 World Cup by Cricket Australia and the 2019 World Cup by the ECB had been released about a year before the actual tournament.
Now, with the fans booking hotels and flights to come and watch the games, in particular, the marquee clash between India and Pakistan on October 15 in Ahmedabad, have been given a jolt as the BCCI is all but certain to tinker with the dates of some of the games.
Jay Shah addressed the reporters after a meeting of the World Cup host associations in New Delhi on Thursday (July 27).
Here are 3 major announcements made by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah regarding World Cup 2023:
Dates of a few games to be changed; not venues
Venue change would not be feasible for the fans (though the BCCI has rarely cared for the fans). But Jay Shah did confirm that dates of a few matches could be changed. Shah said that boards of several other countries had written to the BCCI pointing out logistical challenges their teams would face, thus requesting changes.
He explained that some boards want a gap of an extra day between some of their consecutive matches.
“As far as possible, we are looking at not changing the venue as well as the matches. Not changing the venue is very important. Teams which have six-day gaps between matches, we are trying to reduce it to four-five days; and those that have just two-day gaps, we are trying to increase to three days.”
Shah did not specifically confirm that the India-Pakistan game would be moved from October 15 to 14, but it is likely to happen, given the Gujarat police have issued concerns regarding not being able to provide enough security for October 15 which will be the first day of the big festival of Navratri.
Shah, however, dismissed this as a reason.
“If security was an issue then why would the match go there (to Ahmedabad). [October] 14-15 is not the problem. Two or three boards have written in, asking to change based on the logistical challenges. There are some matches where there is only a two-day gap, so it will be difficult to play and then travel next day [and then play again].”
He added that the BCCI is working with the ICC and the revised schedule will be announced in a few days.
BCCI asks for plans from state associations to improve stadium facilities; Free water for fans
It is no hidden secret that the conditions and facilities in most of the stadiums in India is deplorable and unbecoming of the richest cricket board in the world.
Cricbuzz has reported that “The BCCI has requested for plans from the state associations outlining how they will manage ticket sales for each game. This includes details about pricing, the number of tickets available for sale, the different types of tickets, and pricing for corporate boxes and complementary tickets. The BCCI has also informed each hosting association of the ticket quota they need to allocate to both the BCCI and the ICC for each match.”
One facility what Jay Shah confirmed, and which comes as a good respite for the fans, is that free drinking water will be provided to all fans at the stadiums, and they wouldn’t have to buy the exorbitantly priced bottles.
Physical tickets will be needed for fans; BCCI still reluctant to move to e-Ticket
In a world which is moving toward digitalization, the BCCI remains reluctant to have e-Tickets for entry in the stadiums. For the World Cup 2023, the fans will have to collect physical tickets and produce the same at the counter while coming into the grounds, even if they book tickets online.
To avoid the chaos that happened in Ahmedabad during the IPL 2023 playoffs and final, Jay Shah confirmed that 7-8 counters will be opened for fans to collect their tickets.
“We will make arrangements so that the physical tickets can be collected at seven-eight places before one week of the match. We will make it hassle-free. We will start the e-ticket system in bilateral games first.”
