Ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup, an inspection team from the International Cricket Council (ICC) is checking the readiness of venues that will host the quadrennial extravaganza in October-November this year.
The ICC team, which is currently at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, has paid a visit to three venues in South – Bengaluru, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, where practice matches will be held and the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The reconnaissance unit dropped in at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on July 28 and expressed their satisfaction with the existing facilities.
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“They were here on Friday and were satisfied by our preparations. We have been hosting Duleep Trophy matches at the venue and we are ready for the World Cup games,” a KSCA official said.
Bengaluru is scheduled to host five matches, including India’s fixture against the Netherlands and two games of Pakistan against Australia and New Zealand.
India is set to begin its World Cup campaign on October 8 against five-time champion Australia at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Chepauk will also host two other high-profile matches where Pakistan will take on South Africa and Afghanistan. The ICC team inspected the facilities at the stadium on July 26.
“Yes, they were here and it was the routine pre-tournament visit checking on the venue preparation. They have given an all-clear for us, and we will be in touch with the ICC in the coming days as well,” said a Tamil Nadu Cricket Association official.
The Greenfield Stadium will not host any main draw matches but the Kerala capital will see a few preparation games ahead of the World Cup.
“We have recently hosted an ODI and a T20I match here. So, the experience will help us and we are also working on the recommendations of the ICC team to make further improvements,” said a Kerala Cricket Association official.
The Greenfield Stadium had hosted India’s one-dayer against Sri Lanka earlier this year and a T20I match against South Africa in September last year.
In the days to come, the ICC team will visit all the other venues that will host matches, including the practice games.
The ICC team’s main focus will be assisting the host venues on matters like security inside the stadium, and necessities of broadcast teams among others.
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