REVEALED! Why Pakistan wants to trade ICC WC 2023 venues for matches against AUS, AFG

ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule: PCB wants a venue swap for the two matches. According to the same report, it is clear that PCB made the request because that would make them favorites.

Bombay: According to the draft presented by the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Pakistan will play against Australia and Afghanistan in Chennai. Now there is a delay in the announcement of the World Cup schedule and the reason why PCB does not agree with Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai. According to a report on ESPNCricinfo, PCB wants a venue swap for the two games. According to the same report, it is clear that PCB made the request because that would make them favorites.

“Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai are the two we should try to change as much as possible,” the PCB’s internal memo said. “Ideally, we can exchange them. Australia in Chennai and Afghanistan in Bengaluru would make us clear favorites in both games.”

It will now be interesting to see if ICC gives in under pressure and accepts PCB’s request to switch locations. Pakistan is also scheduled to play a warm-up match against Afghanistan, for which PCB has requested an exhibition match against South Africa, England, New Zealand or Australia.

Initially, PCB was reluctant to play against India in Ahmedabad, but now they have made a turnaround and take on the hosts at Narendra Modi Stadium just fine as the venue would suit their style of play.

“India in Ahmedabad will be beneficial to them, but I doubt that will change when you consider what that venue means to the BCCI and what this match means to the World Cup,” said PCB internal note accessed by ESPNCricinfo.