ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Pakistan, Sri Lanka not allowed to practice at Uppal Stadium on October 9, here's why

As Sri Lanka and Pakistan prepare for their second match in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Tuesday (October 10) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

After having contrasting fortunes in their tournament openers, both teams will be playing their second match of the 10-team competition in Hyderabad. Pakistan won the match against the Netherlands quite convincingly while Sri Lanka were badly bruised and battered in their opening game against South Africa in Delhi.

Both teams are getting ready for their next assignment in the 'City of Nizams'. However, the two teams are not going to practice at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium and will be practicing at a different ground.

Why Pakistan and Sri Lanka Not Practising at Uppal Stadium?

The Sri Lankan and Pakistani teams will be holding their training session at the Gymkhana Ground in Secunderabad. The decision was taken by the ICC and the BCCI because of the New Zealand and Netherlands match in the stadium today.

Players won't have access to the stadium pitch due to the match and even the nets won't be available for the two teams. Hence, they have been allotted a different venue for training.

Sri Lanka is holding the training session at the Gymkhana Ground between 10 am and 1 pm. Following this, they will hold their pre-match media conference at the Stadium.

Later in the day, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan side will head to the Gymkhana Ground for training between 2 pm and 5 pm. They will also hold their pre-match media conference at the stadium at 4:45 pm.

Earlier on Sunday (October 8), Sri Lanka were fined 10 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday (October 7).

Javagal Srinath of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Dasun Shanaka's side was ruled to be 2 over(s) short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 5 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Dasun Shanaka pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Shahid Saikat, third umpire Michael Gough and fourth umpire Alex Wharf leveled the charge.