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.