World Cup 2023: Eden Gardens and Chepauk shortlisted to host India vs Pakistan clash

The marquee match between India and Pakistan in the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is very likely to be played at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens stadium. However, MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai has also been shortlisted as a potential location for the high-voltage match, according to reports. In case any inconvenience comes up Kolkata facilitating the touchy conflict, Chennai could be granted the match.

Eden Gardens has facilitated various India versus Pakistan conflicts previously, including the one that was played in the T20 World Cup 2016. Virat Kohli scored 55* runs in 37 deliveries as the MS Dhoni-led team defeated the Men in Green by six wickets in the match. The storied Indo-Pak match that India won by 29 runs previously took place at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali during the 2011 ODI World Cup.

However, the controversy surrounding Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup on Indian soil has not yet been resolved, as the Pakistan Cricket Board, led by Najam Sethi, had previously requested that Bangladesh be considered for hosting Pakistan’s World Cup matches. Even though that is highly unlikely, Pakistan and India have not reached a decision on this, so the discussions are still ongoing.

In the meantime, according to reports, 12 settings have been concluded to have all the matches of the impending World Cup. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has been shortlisted to host the final, and each venue is expected to host four matches.

India’s Asia Cup matches likely to be hosted outside Pakistan

India’s Asia Cup matches are likely to be held outside of Pakistan. Notably, the refusal of India to play the Asia Cup on Pakistani soil sparked the discussion about holding Pakistan’s World Cup matches in Bangladesh. Sethi, the head of the PCB, initially objected to the idea, but he eventually agreed to the idea of holding India’s matches in another nearby nation if the ICC and BCCI honored their request regarding their position on the World Cup venue. Nations, for example, the UAE, Oman and Sri Lanka are in the know to have India’s Asia Cup matches.

The PCB also retaliated after the BCCI’s decision by stating that the board would not send its team to the coveted ICC World Cup if India boycotted the Asia Cup, contrary to earlier reports

2023 World Cup Stadiums pic.twitter.com/8qa2WdnlTm

— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) April 11, 2023

Sources have reported that the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, might host the match if Pakistan does not agree to play in India and if the ICC and BCCI grant permission. The schedule and the location, on the other hand, won’t be revealed until after everything has been finalized, so the ICC has yet to make any announcements in this regard.