ISLAMABAD: The ODI World Cup warm-up match between Pakistan and New Zealand will take place behind closed doors in India’s Hyderabad, a report by cricket website ESPNcricinfo said on Wednesday, after the Indian police failed to provide assurance about arranging adequate security for the fixture.
Before Pakistan begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Oct. 6, the 1992 champions will play New Zealand on Sept. 29 in Hyderabad in a warm-up fixture, followed by another against Australia on Oct. 3. However, media reports state the Hyderabad Police have informed the hosts of the match, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) that they cannot guarantee adequate security since the fixture is scheduled a day after two major festivals that would involve mass gatherings in the city, the Ganesh Visarjan and Milad-un-Nabi, will take place in the city.
“The ODI World Cup warm-up match between Pakistan and New Zealand, on September 29 in Hyderabad, will be played behind closed doors (without spectators in attendance) after the local police failed to provide assurance about arranging adequate security for the game,” ESPNcricinfo stated in its report.
Fans who bought tickets to see the two teams play each other will be impacted by the decision. The report could not confirm whether fans have been alerted about the development by Bookmyshow, the official ticketing partners for the World Cup. Despite the hiccups, the HCA is adamant on hosting the match.
“With the tickets sold and the broadcast plans set in stone, it was not possible to shift the match date,” the report added.
Pakistan are playing four (two warm-up, two group games) of their eleven matches in the World Cup at Hyderabad.
After much wrangling, Pakistan announced in August it would send its cricket team to India to participate in the World Cup. However, Pakistan’s foreign office had expressed “deep concerns” over the team’s safety in the country due to political tensions with India.
The announcement came amid India’s refusal to play its share of the Asia Cup matches on Pakistani soil due to political reasons. India’s refusal ultimately forced Pakistan to agree to a “hybrid model” which saw the majority of the Asia Cup matches being held in India, despite Pakistan being the host country.
After the Netherlands, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka on Oct. 10 before facing India in a high-octane clash on Oct. 14 in Ahmedabad.
Pakistan, New Zealand to play World Cup warm-up match in India behind closed doors
https://arab.news/m2b63
Pakistan, New Zealand to play World Cup warm-up match in India behind closed doors
- Hyderabad Police say cannot guarantee adequate security since match takes place a day after two major festivals in the city
- Indian cricket board has so far not commented on the issue which is likely to impact fans who have bought tickets for the match
UAE dethrone Algeria as Jordan edge Iraq to reach Arab Cup semi-finals
- Jordan repeat Asian Cup triumph over Iraq with a 1-0 victory, Ali Olwan scoring from the spot for the 4th time in 4 consecutive matches
- UAE end Algeria’s reign as Arab Cup champions with a 7-6 penalty-shootout win after the game ends 1-1
DOHA: The UAE and Jordan booked their places in the Arab Cup semi-finals on a dramatic day of quarter-final action in which the defending champions were eliminated and a regional rivalry was renewed.
Jordan repeated their Asian Cup triumph over Iraq with another narrow victory, as Ali Olwan extended his remarkable streak of scoring from the spot to four consecutive matches.
His first-half penalty was the only goal in a cagey encounter with few clear-cut chances for either side. Jordan dominated early on but were dealt a blow when star forward Yazan Al-Naimat was forced off with a knee injury.
Iraq improved after the break, with the talismanic Ali Jasim injecting a sense of urgency and twice drawing smart saves from Yazeed Abulaila, first with a fierce long-range strike and then a driven effort moments later.
Jordan nearly sealed the victory with a second goal late on when Mohannad Abu Taha, who scored with a spectacular long-range strike earlier in the tournament, hammered another powerful attempt just wide.
Nevertheless, the Jordanians held firm to set up a semi-final clash with Saudi Arabia on Monday.
The second quarter-final delivered even more drama, as the UAE ended Algeria’s reign as Arab Cup champions with a sudden-death, penalty-shootout win.
Algeria dominated the opening half and twice found the net, only for both goals to be ruled out. They finally made their pressure count just 50 seconds after the restart, when Adil Boulbina fired home after Yacine Brahimi’s strike was parried into his path.
The UAE had struggled to gain a foothold in the game but hit back through Bruno, who converted a pinpoint, inswinging cross from Yahya Al-Ghassani midway through the second half.
As Algeria pressed for a winner they were nearly punished at the end of regulation time when Lucas Pimenta’s fine header forced a sharp save from Farid Chaal.
Extra time offered chances for Brahimi and substitute Zakaria Draoui to put Algeria ahead again, but the breakthrough never came.
And so to the shootout, in which the UAE goalkeeper, Hamad Almeqbaali, denied Mohammed Khacef before Richard Akonnor coolly dispatched the decisive kick to make it 7-6 on penalties and set up a semi-final clash with Morocco, also on Monday.
