Organizing two World Cup matches within consecutive days is not considered ideal due to both logistical and security concerns, as stated by an official from the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) on Sunday. However, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla firmly stated that any further adjustments to the schedule are unlikely.
Following a delay in announcing the schedule in June, the BCCI and ICC rescheduled a total of nine matches, including the high-profile India-Pakistan clash. This led to the advancement of the Indo-Pak fixture by one day to October 15 in Ahmedabad, causing Pakistan’s match against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad to be rescheduled from October 12 to October 10. Furthermore, the HCA is also set to host a match between New Zealand and Netherlands on October 9.
In light of reservations expressed by the Hyderabad police regarding the security arrangements for back-to-back games, the HCA has requested a modification to the schedule. They are seeking to introduce a gap of at least one day between these two matches. While the outcome remains uncertain, the HCA official indicated that if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reconsiders, it would be a positive step. Collaboration with security agencies is crucial in this process.
An unnamed HCA official emphasized the general preference for having a day between two World Cup matches. Ongoing discussions with security agencies and communication with the BCCI are underway to explore the feasibility of this request.
However, Shukla’s official statement expressed that further schedule changes are unlikely, as they involve multiple stakeholders and significant complexity.
Shukla, who holds responsibility for the Hyderabad venue, acknowledged the difficulty of altering the World Cup schedule. He emphasized that the BCCI alone cannot effect changes, as various entities including teams and the ICC are involved. Additionally, during international games, the Hyderabad Police typically deploy between 2000 to 2500 personnel, with deployment contingent on factors like the nature of the game and anticipated turnout, as explained by an HCA source.
The involvement of Pakistan in one of the games is expected to lead to heightened security measures. Pakistan, playing in India for the first time since 2016, is scheduled for an extended stay in Hyderabad, participating in two warm-up matches before competing in two main tournament matches at the venue.
Their opening match against the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is set for October 6. However, the ticket sales for the One Day International (ODI) mega event commence on August 25, providing limited time for cricket enthusiasts to plan their travel arrangements.