BCCI Prevents Fans To Attend PAK vs NZ World Cup 2023 Warm-Up Game
Babar Azam with teammates in Asia Cup 2023 (Twitter)
The World Cup 2023 warm-up match between Pakistan and New Zealand is set to be played behind closed doors at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) confirmed the same owing to lack of adequate security, considering the match will be played amidst Ganesh Visarjan and Milan-Un-Nabi festivals.
As per reports, the BCCI have already instructed their ticketing partner Bookmyshow to refund the money of those who had earlier booked their tickets for the game.
No crowd allowed for PAK vs NZ warm-up affair
Initially, the Hyderabad city police had asked the HCA to postpone the match for their inability to garner enough security on time. Around the same time frame, the city police will already be tied up in providing security for festival gatherings for Ganesh Visarjan and Milan-Un-Nabi.
The HCA, in lieu of the World Cup 2023 schedule, declined the request and both parties decided to have spectators barred from entering the stadium instead.
Pakistan’s warm-up affair with New Zealand is scheduled to be played on September 29. It marks the first of two warm-up fixtures for both sides in their lead-up to the 2023 World Cup, set to commence on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Notably, this is not the only instance of a planned cricket match getting affected by a festival this World Cup. Pakistan’s clash against hosts India and against defending champions England were both brought forward by a day in Ahmedabad and Bengal respectively.
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