Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Featured image credit: iMahesh / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license / Cropped to fit
Ticket-holders have been promised full refunds after the opening Cricket World Cup warm-up game between Pakistan and New Zealand in Hyderabad was moved behind closed doors.
The BCCI made the decision to ban fans from the September 29 game based on the advice of local security agencies.
In explaining the decision, the BCCI said the match at the 55,000-capacity Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium coincides with festivals in the Hyderabad area on the same day.
ESPN Cricinfo reports that there had been a question mark over the Pakistan versus New Zealand warm-up game since the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) was told by local police that it would struggle to meet the security demands put in place by the ICC. With the tickets sold and the broadcast plans set in stone, it was not possible to shift the match date.
Spectators who bought tickets for the game will receive a full refund, the BCCI added.
“The match in Hyderabad coincides with festivals on the day and large gatherings are expected around the city,” the BCCI said.
Hyderabad is one of three venues, along with Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati, that will host the warm-up segment of the tournament, to be played between September 29 and October 3, before the tournament proper starts on October 5.
As well as the Pakistan v New Zealand game, Friday will also see Bangladesh play Sri Lanka in Guwahati, and Afghanistan play South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram.
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