'Ye World Cup hoga bhi ya nhi' - Fans react as Kolkata police request Indian Cricket Board to reschedule England vs Pakistan world cup match due to Kali Puja

Concerns over security arrangements for the England vs. Pakistan match at Kolkata's Eden Gardens have surfaced.

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Rohit Kumar
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England vs Pakistan

England vs Pakistan (Source: Twitter)

Concerns over security arrangements for England vs. Pakistan match at Kolkata's Eden Gardens have surfaced. Amid the ongoing rescheduling of matches, Kolkata police have expressed inefficiency in providing security for the game due to Kali Puja. It has raised uncertainty over the World Cup 2023.

The Indian Cricket Board, grappling with poor scheduling, is yet to announce new fixtures for the ODI World Cup. Notably, the World is set to be hosted across a dozen venues in the country from October 5 to November 19. Earlier, the Ahmedabad police had requested the rescheduling of India vs. Pakistan match due to security issues during Navratri. The match was subsequently preponed by a day, but the official schedule is yet to be updated.

It's worth noting that to accommodate a single India vs. Pakistan game, the India Board was forced to reschedule six matches. This means that if the Board accepts the Kolkata police's request, it will have to reschedule almost half a dozen matches. It will once again create a ruckus among the fans and players.

Apex Cricket Council's delegation visits Eden Garden

Meanwhile, in light of the apprehensions, a 21-member logistics and administrative delegation from the Indian Cricket Board and Apex Cricket Council inspected Eden Gardens on Saturday. It came to ensure preparations for the marquee event. Speaking about their visit, Cricket Association of Bengal chief Snehasis Ganguly confirmed that the team was satisfied with the arrangements.

"They were happy with the work progress. They visited every corner of the stadium and expressed happiness with the renovation work. Members were also happy with the work being done at the new player’s dressing room, hospitality box, corporate box, and the already completed Press Box and Media Centre," said Ganguly.

Notably, During the tournament, the historic venue will host five significant matches, namely Netherlands vs. Bangladesh on October 28, Bangladesh vs. Pakistan on October 31, India vs. South Africa on November 5, England vs. Pakistan on November 12, and the second semi-final on November 16.

Here is how fans react to the concerns raised by Kolkata police:

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