Xtra Time Web Desk: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is likely to release the forthcoming World Cup 2023 schedule on June 27 as it marks 100 days to the start of the marquee event which gets underway on October 5.
There has already been a lot of talks about the delay in schedule announcement. The delay is also because of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) reservations on the draft fixture sent by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The Indian cricket board has already mailed the draft fixtures to ICC who has forwarded the same to all participating teams.
“We have written to the ICC that we cannot give approval or disapproval to this [World Cup schedule]. It is our government who must decide, just like when it comes to India, it is their government that decides when they go to play,” Najam Sethi said in a press conference before stepping down from his role of interim PCB Chairman.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has made it clear that the approval on draft proposal is subject to Government nod. PCB has already made their intentions clear they will not play India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15. They have also requested to swap the venue of Afghanistan match from Chennai to Bengaluru. They would rather want to face Australia in Chennai in place of Bengaluru.
It is because of these delays that ICC is not being able to release the World Cup 2023 schedule. As soon as PCB clears the draft proposal, the International Cricket Council is likely to release the schedule on June 27.