The main match between India and Pakistan at the 2018 ODI World Cup is expected to be played at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
According to reports, BCCI is set to stage the high-profile match there because the stadium can hold more than one lakh people. It will also be the first India versus Pakistan match to take place on Indian territory in more than seven years.
While this is happening, it is anticipated that BCCI will release the schedule following the conclusion of the 16th season of the Indian Premier League. Prior to that, the shortlist of potential locations, even for exhibition games, included Nagpur, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Rajkot, Bengaluru, and Dharamshala.
On the other hand, the competition’s first game is probably going to be played on October 5, and Ahmedabad might host the first World Cup final.
According to the Indian Express, because of security concerns, the Babar Azam-led team may end up playing most of its games at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Eden Gardens was a popular location as well, but given the current state of affairs, it’s likely that Kolkata and Guwahati will host the majority of Bangladeshi matches because it will be more convenient for the visiting fans from the neighboring nation.
In competition with Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa, team management wants spin-friendly surfaces.
Notably, prior to finalizing the schedule, certain BCCI officials are said to have communicated with the management of the Indian team, who requested that its matches against Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa be scheduled at locations that typically favor spinners. The Rohit Sharma-led team is reportedly looking to capitalize on home field advantage in order to help India win their third ODI World Cup.
In recent years, the Indian team has excelled at home on slow courses. The team management had therefore asked that whenever the schedule was being created, the Indian squad be matched up against elite opponents on slow pitches. They desired a home-field edge, a BCCI source informed the Indian Express.
While five other cities will host various other matches for India, it is also thought that Chennai is currently the frontrunner to host India versus Australia.
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