Pakistan: Wasim Akram, a former Pakistani fast bowler and World Cup champion in 1992, thinks there is no question about whether Pakistan would face India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as stated in the 2023 World Cup schedule released on Tuesday.
“There’s no issue with it. Pakistan will play wherever they are assigned to play. Simple. This unnecessary stress of ‘we won’t play in Ahmedabad’…you ask Pakistani players, they don’t care wherever their schedule comes,” Akram told reporters.
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“I’m all for egos. If you have an ego and understand that what’s happening is wrong, then speak up. But again, move on then. Always plan it, always think if we can do it? Can we finish what we’ve planned to do? If we can’t, then don’t do this. It ends up becoming a cause for laughter. We’re all patriotic for our country. And they will be for their country. No doubt about it. But end of the day, it’s only a game. Governments will speak to each other, that are their problem,” the former Pakistan international added.
Earlier last month, Pakistan Cricket Board chief Najam Sethi had told, “When I heard that the Pakistan match was to be in Ahmedabad, I smiled and said to myself – ‘this is one way to make sure we don’t come to India’. I mean if you’d said Chennai or Kolkata, it might have made sense.
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Following the revelation of the draft schedule, the PCB requested a site change for the Australia and Afghanistan game from Chennai and Bangalore, which was rejected, as well as their refusal to play at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium because to security concerns. The latter was taken into consideration, and while none of Pakistan's league stage matches will take place in Mumbai, the semifinal that was originally slated for that city would be changed to Eden Gardens in Kolkata if Pakistan advances to that round.
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