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
Australia’s Green becomes IPL’s most expensive overseas player
- Kolkata Knight Riders sign Cameron Green for $2.77 million at player auction for 2026 season
- Aussie cricketer is set to play in the third Ashes test against England starting on Wednesday
Australia all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in the Indian Premier League (IPL), after Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for 252 million Indian rupees ($2.77 million) at the player auction for the 2026 season in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Green, who was initially registered as a batsman due to an error, was the subject of intense bidding between Kolkata and Chennai Super Kings before being purchased by the three-times champions.
The 26-year-old is the third most expensive player in IPL history, after India’s Rishabh Pant (270 million Indian rupees) and Shreyas Iyer (267.5 million). “We are very happy. This is something that we were really focused on... I think he adds a lot to our team,” Kolkata CEO Venky Mysore said.
Australian Mitchell Starc, the previous most expensive foreign player in the competition, attracted a bid of 247.5 million Indian rupees in 2024 from Kolkata, who have made three of the five most expensive buys in IPL history.
Green, who missed the IPL this year as he was recovering from back surgery, is set to play in the third Ashes test against England starting on Wednesday.
Kolkata also spent big on Sri Lankan seamer Matheesha Pathirana and Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman.
Five-time champions Chennai splurged 142 million Indian rupees each on wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma, who has hit 16 sixes in this season’s Ranji Trophy, and all-rounder Prashant Veer, making them the most expensive uncapped signings in IPL history.
Delhi Capitals bought England batter Ben Duckett and South Africa’s David Miller for 20 million Indian rupees each.
The 19th edition of the IPL begins on March 26, after India co-hosts the Twenty20 World Cup starting in February.
