In a move that will impact the ODI World Cup schedule, the BCCI is considering rescheduling the most high-profile match of the tournament – India vs Pakistan – from October 15 to October 14.
ESPNcricinfo has learned that the reason the BCCI has been forced to consider the rejig is because the local police told the board it would find it difficult to cope providing security for the marquee match on October 15, which also happens to be the first day of the Navaratri festival in Gujarat.
It is understood that the BCCI alerted the ICC recently, but no concrete decision has yet been taken on advancing the match by a day. The BCCI, it is learned, is likely to have a meeting with all the state associations which are hosting the World Cup matches on July 27 before a final call is taken.
The development comes virtually a month since the BCCI announced the World Cup schedule, which itself was severely delayed. While the BCCI has not yet announced any detail on when it would release tickets, fans and media and other stakeholders have already booked flights and hotels in Ahmedabad for the match, which has historically been one of the most watched events in sport globally.
As per the World Cup schedule, October 14 happens to be a double-header day: England play Afghanistan in a day match in Delhi with New Zealand playing Bangladesh in day-night game in Chennai the same day. It cannot be a straight swap mainly because New Zealand will face Afghanistan on October 18 in Chennai.
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