Pakistan cricket team raises concerns over playing World Cup matches in Ahmedabad 

The ICC ODI World Cup will be held in India later in the year, with England set to take New Zealand on in the first match in Ahmedabad on October 5. The final will also be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19. 

Hosts India’s first match is likely to be against Australia in Chennai, with a highly-anticipated clash against Pakistan due to be held on October 15. However, sources in Pakistan have confirmed that the Pakistan cricket team is unwilling to play their World Cup matches in Ahmedabad.

With the schedule of the World Cup due to be released soon, Pakistan government also has to give their approval for the national side to travel to India, which seems to be dependent on whether the BCCI will acquiesce to the PCB's request. 

The request from the PCB is to change the venue of its initial few matches, even though they have agreed to play the final in Ahmedabad should the team qualify for that stage.

The Narendra Modi Stadium happens to be the largest cricket stadium in the world, with the BCCI keen for the biggest games in the tournament, such as the opener, the final, and India v Pakistan, to be played at their marquee stadium. 

The BCCI is expected to release the schedule of the tournament soon after receiving formal approval from all concerned parties.

The World Cup will feature 10 teams playing a total of 48 matches. Each participating team will play nine league games, with India, England, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South Africa already having qualified. The final two teams will be decided via a qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe in June and July. This tournament will feature former champions like West Indies and Sri Lanka, as well as the Netherlands, Ireland, Nepal, Oman, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, and hosts Zimbabwe.