The upcoming T20I series between the India National Cricket Team and the Australia National Cricket Team will see a change in venue for the fifth and final match. Originally slated to be played in Hyderabad, the game has been shifted to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, as reported by Sportstar. This venue change is attributed to the upcoming elections in Hyderabad.

Scheduled immediately after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, the five-match T20I series will take place on November 23, 26, 28, December 1, and 3. The initial venues for the matches were announced as Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Nagpur, and Hyderabad.

The decision to relocate the match was made due to the Telangana assembly elections, set to occur on November 30, with the vote counting scheduled for December 3, the same day as the 5th T20I match. Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) officials sought permission from the police department to host the match but were denied. A senior HCA official lamented, “The police department didn’t give us the requisite permission to host the match as on that day the counting will happen. It’s really unfortunate, but we can’t do much,” as quoted by Sportstar.

The HCA attempted to request a schedule change with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), proposing a reschedule to December 4. However, this request was declined by the BCCI, citing prior commitments, as the Australian team’s travel arrangements were already in place.

Bengaluru to Host 5th India vs. Australia T20I, Hyderabad Venue Change Due to Elections

The change in venue is a significant setback for Hyderabad, as preparations were in full swing, from the dressing room to seating arrangements, with expectations of a strong turnout for this much-anticipated match.

Australia has already announced its squad for the India series, with Matthew Wade named as the captain. Several key players, such as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Steve Smith, and Travis Head, have been included in the squad.

Australia’s T20I squad: Matthew Wade (capt), David Warner, Travis Head, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Josh Inglis, Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha.

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