World Cup 2023: Pakistan, New Zealand warm-up match to be played without crowd

The warm-up match for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on September 29 between Pakistan and New Zealand in Hyderabad will be held without any crowd due to security concerns. 

This decision was made by the organizers, and the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) will facilitate the refund of ticket money through their ticketing partner, for the fans who had purchased tickets for the match.

As reported by the Indian Express, a BCCI official stated,  “The game will be played without spectators and those who have booked their tickets, their money will be refunded.

Hyderabad police had expressed concerns about security, particularly due to events like Ganesh Visarjan and Mila-Un-Nabi occurring on September 28. They had requested a postponement of the match, but due to the already tight schedule, it was decided to play the game behind closed doors at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Similar security concerns have been raised regarding two World Cup 2023 pool games in Hyderabad scheduled for October 9 and October 10 between Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Netherlands. 

To ensure security, a significant number of police personnel will be deployed for each game, and heightened security measures will also be in place at the Pakistan team's hotel.