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R Ashwin and Pakistan cricket Team (Source - Twitter)
The 2023 World Cup will be held in India from October 5 to November 3. Even though India will host the event for the fourth time, this will be the first time it does so as the only host. In the past, India co-hosted the World Cup with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
There have been several complications, most of them related to Pakistan's participation, in the run-up to the event. PCB later agreed to participate in the competition, but they are now asking to swap two of their venues. Meanwhile, Indian veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has talked about Pakistan’s request.
"Pakistan, in their request letter itself, have mentioned that conditions will favour Afghanistan in Chennai. So, by changing venues, it plays into an advantage for Pakistan. So, I highly doubt that the apex cricket body will heed to this request. Maybe if Pakistan have given some valid security reasons, then it might be shifted", Ashwin was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
The cricket governing body will consider these requests only for security reasons: R Ashwin
Interestingly, the schedule is yet to be announced, however, there were some reports that India will be clashing against Pakistan in the ODI World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ashwin further added about the matter and said that the Apex Cricket body will change the venue only for security reasons. Pakistan will reportedly be playing in Bengaluru against Australia and will face Afghanistan in Chennai and they wanted to swap the venues. However, they didn’t provide any clear reason behind that. Ashwin also recalled the moment when Pakistan’s venue got changed from Dharamsala to Kolkata in 2016 20-20 World Cup.
“The fixture now is, Pakistan playing Australia in Bangalore and Afghanistan in Chennai. They want the venues interchanged. Only for security reasons, the cricket governing body will consider these requests. In the 2016 T20 WC, India vs Pakistan was slated to happen in Dharamsala but for security reasons, it got shifted to Kolkata," he said.