Cricket World Cup 2023 schedule to be changed after three full members raise concerns: BCCI secretary Jay Shah

Cricket World Cup 2023 will begin on October 5, with reigning champions England taking on New Zealand in Ahmedabad.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has confirmed on July 27, 2023, that the schedule of the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 which is to begin on October 5 in India is set to undergo changes as three full-time ICC members have raised some concerns.

Shah made his statement after learning this week that the BCCI has been considering postponing the October 15 India vs. Pakistan match in Ahmedabad to October 14.

Shah did not specify if the India-Pakistan date was one of the alterations, but he did mention that boards from several other nations have written to the BCCI to request changes due to logistical issues their teams would encounter. But he did not mention the teams.

"A few members have requested that they have short gaps between two matches while they have a long gap of six days before other games. We are trying to just change the date and time of matches while retaining the venues. Things will be sorted in a few days. These things happen in World Cups," Shah was quoted by PTI.

The ICC and the BCCI announced the Cricket World Cup 2023 schedule last month.

If security was an issue, then why would the match go to Ahmedabad: Jay Shah

As per the schedule, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will meet at the world's largest stadium in Ahmedabad. According to a previous report, the India-Pakistan clash could be advanced by a day to October 14.

Shah has also rebuked all rumors of there being a security issue being the reason for the change of the India-Pakistan match date.

"If security was an issue then why would the match go there (to Ahmedabad). [October] 14-15 is not the problem. Two or three boards have written in, asking to change based on the logistical challenges. There are some matches where there is only a two-day gap, so it will be difficult to play and then travel next day [and then play again],” he added.

Shah said the venues of matches would remain the same in the revised schedule, but the gaps between games would be adjusted.

"As far as possible, we are looking at not changing the venue as well as the matches. Not changing the venue is very important. Teams which have six-day gaps between matches, we are trying to reduce it to four-five days; and those that have just two-day gaps, we are trying to increase to three days,” added the BCCI secretary.

The tournament is scheduled to begin on October 5, with reigning champions England taking on New Zealand in Ahmedabad.