Credit: Twitter
The September 29 ICC ODI World Cup 2023 warm-up match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Hyderabad will be played behind closed doors without crowds due to security concerns. The 2023 ODI World Cup is set to kick off on October 5 before which all teams will participate in two warm-up games starting from September 29.
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The Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) will issue a set of directions through Bookmyshow, the ticketing partner for the World Cup, for fans to refund the ticket money for the game. As reported by the Indian Express, a BCCI official stated, “The game will be played without spectators and those who have booked their tickets, their money will be refunded.”
Hyderabad police had requested the local cricket association to postpone the game as they couldn't guarantee security with festivals like Ganesh Visarjan and Milan-Un-Nabi converging on September 28. With the already altered schedule, the organisers couldn't accommodate the request and decided to play the games without fans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Also Read: HCA raises concern over hosting back-to-back matches during ODI World Cup 2023
A similar issue was raised earlier regarding security concerns in Hyderabad regarding two back-to-back World Cup 2023 league games scheduled to be held on October 9 and October 10. Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka on October 10 while New Zealand and Netherlands will lock horns on October 9. Reports further claim that around 3,000 police personnel will be deployed for one game. Similarly, a large police force will also be present at the Pakistan team's hotel.
