The Special Condition From ICC If India And Pakistan Face Off In The Semifinal Of World Cup 2023: As the world gears up for the 2023 Cricket World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has outlined a unique condition, particularly concerning a potential face-off between rivals India and Pakistan in the semifinals. The condition stipulates that the hosting city for the match will shift from Mumbai to Kolkata if these two teams make it to the penultimate stage of the tournament.
India, as the host nation, has the privilege of deciding the venue for its semifinal match, should it qualify. Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium is the chosen location, replicating the 2016 T20 World Cup, where the Men in Blue clashed against the West Indies in the knockout round.
However, geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan have necessitated a change in the norm. If the Men in Green qualify for the semifinals, they will play their match in Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, regardless of their opponent being the host nation. The ICC has sanctioned this special provision, adjusting the traditional rules to accommodate the sensitive political dynamics. The reason is that Pakistanis are banned from Mumbai after the 2008 Mumbai Terror attack.
Pakistan’s 2023 World Cup journey has been further confined to five specific venues: Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata. This arrangement means that if they progress to the semifinals, their match will be held exclusively at Eden Gardens.
The Special Condition From ICC If India And Pakistan Face Off In The Semifinal Of World Cup 2023
The group stage of the 2023 World Cup commences on October 5, with the defending champions England going head-to-head against the runners-up of the past two editions, New Zealand. This opening match is set to take place in Ahmedabad. Over the subsequent weeks, each of the ten participating teams will face each other once, culminating in the last group stage match between England and Pakistan at Eden Gardens on November 12.
The semifinals, involving the top four teams from the group stage, are slated for November 15 and 16. Traditionally, the team finishing first in the points table would battle the fourth-placed team in Mumbai, while the teams finishing second and third would face off on November 16.
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However, the ICC’s special provision complicates this layout. The date and cities for the semifinals remain unchanged, but should India and Pakistan both make it to the semifinals, the specific match lineups will not depend on their final positions in the points table. Instead, the venue will be determined by the identity of the teams, shifting the usual format of the tournament.
In conclusion, the 2023 Cricket World Cup is set to be an exciting affair with some added intrigue courtesy of the special provision from the ICC. Should India and Pakistan qualify for the semifinals, fans can expect a change of venue and an electrifying match in Kolkata. Regardless of the teams that make it to the final stages, the unique conditions have added another layer of anticipation to this already eagerly awaited event.
