Does Ahmedabad's pitch hurl fire or is it haunted? Afridi questions PCB

The curtains have now finally fallen as India has agreed to Pakistan's Cricket Board’s hybrid model for Asia Cup 2023, and Pakistan has also stepped a foot back from its threats to not travel to India for ICC ODI World Cup 2023.

With Pakistan and India marquee clash reported to be scheduled at Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, on October 15th, 2023, some apprehension has been a center of concern amongst the Pakistani fans and cricket community.

Taking the matter into debate, former Pakistan cricketer, Shahid Afridi, while talking on a local news channel, stated that Ahmedabad pitches is not possessed by magical spooky creatures that would cast a voodoo on Pakistan players.

“Why are they declining to play on Ahmedabad pitches? Does it hurl fire or is it haunted?” Afridi questioned.

"Go and play - go, play and win. If these are the foreseen challenges, then the only way to overcome them is through a comprehensive victory. What matters at the end of the day is Pakistan team's win. The crux only and only lies in there. Take this rather positively. If they [India] are comfortable there, you should go, pull a victory in front of packed Indian crowd and show them what you got," he added.

According to a media report, when ICC officials recently visited Pakistan, PCB’s management committee chairman, Najam Sethi, conveyed to them that Pakistan doesn't want its matches to be scheduled in Ahmedabad unless it is a knock-out game.

"He requested ICC to schedule their games in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata if the national team gets clearance from the Pakistan government to travel to India for the global event scheduled in October and November," a senior PCB source reported.

However, after delays, counterarguments, tentative proposals, and so much more, India's Gujarat state is set to be finalized as the venue for the highly anticipated gigantic clash between the arch-rivals.