AHMEDABAD: The dates and venues for this year's ODI World Cup in India will be revealed around the Test championship final, a top official said yesterday.

It remains unusual that a schedule has not been announced for the 50-over showpiece event expected to be held in October-November. How to accommodate Pakistan remains the main cause of delay. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to work out a plan to play arch-rivals and Asia Cup hosts Pakistan at a neutral venue in September.

Pakistan has threatened to boycott the World Cup in India if the cricketing powerhouse refuse to play the Asia Cup. India and Australia will face off for Test cricket's ultimate prize in the final between June 7-11 at the Oval, which is likely to be the venue of the World Cup announcement. "The venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will be decided at a press conference during the ICC World Test Championship Final," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement after a meeting on the eve of the Indian Premier League final in Ahmedabad. "The complete schedule for the tournament will also be revealed," he said, adding that they were looking at all the major cities as venues for the tournament, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. The fate of the Asia Cup is expected to be decided on the sidelines of the IPL final between Chennai Super Kings and holders Gujarat Titans.

Shah, who is also president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has invited the cricket board presidents of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka to the IPL final where they will discuss the tournament details.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 29 2023

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