The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to change the venue of their matches against Australia and Afghanistan during this year’s World Cup in India.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan has asked ICC to swap venues of the aforementioned matches since it would make them “favourites”. The tentative schedule has them playing Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai.
Usually, venues at ICC events are only changed when there is a security threat.
"Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai are the two which we should look to get changed as much as possible," the PCB's internal note said. "Ideally, we can switch these around. Australia in Chennai and Afghanistan in Bengaluru would make us obvious favourites in both matches."
The PCB is interested in changing the venue for all but three of Pakistan's matches, including the fixture against India on October 15.
"India in Ahmedabad will be advantageous to them, but I doubt that's going to change considering what that venue means for the BCCI and what this match means for the World Cup,” the note added.
"Lucknow would also be a good ground for us considering the overall numbers there. Delhi against most teams would be good for us too. If there is a third change we can make it to get the England game to Lucknow or Chennai."
The report added that the official schedule of the ICC Cricket World Cup could be announced on June 27, which will be 100 days before the scheduled start on October 5.
Pakistan's tentative World Cup schedule
October 6 - vs Qualifier in Hyderabad
October 12 - vs Qualifier in Hyderabad
October 15 - vs India in Ahmedabad
October 20 - vs Australia in Bengaluru
October 23 - vs Afghanistan in Chennai
October 27 - vs South Africa in Chennai
October 31 - vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
November 5 - vs New Zealand Bengaluru
November 12 - vs England in Kolkata