World Cup 2023: BCCI to refund ticket money for Pakistan vs New Zealand warm-up match in Hyderabad - Know Why

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Pakistan vs New Zealand warm-up match on September 29 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium will be played behind closed doors and no fans will be allowed at the venue as the Hyderabad Police has expressed its inability to provide adequate security to the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

The high-profile warm-up match is scheduled a day after two major festivals that would involve mass gatherings – Ganesh Visarjan (immersion) and Milad-un-Nabi in the city.

“The processions will go on late into the night and the local police would not be able to provide adequate security for a match of this scale,” a BCCI official has said. “There will continue to be full security for both the teams during their stay and transit to the stadium.”

The Indian board will be issuing directions to Bookmyshow, the ticketing partner for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, to refund the money to those who have booked tickets for the game.

“The game will be played without spectators and those who have booked their tickets, their money will be refunded,” a BCCI official confirmed.

Pakistan are slated to play their second and last warm-up match at the same venue against Australia on October 3. Thereafter, the Babar Azam-led team will kick off their campaign in Hyderabad against Netherlands. They will play their last World Cup 2023 match in the south Indian city against Sri Lanka on October 10.

The side will face India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14. Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru are the three other venues where Pakistan will play their matches in the round-robin stage.