The upcoming pair of Twenty20 Internationals featuring India and Australia could encounter disruptions, prompting a potential relocation from their originally designated venues in Nagpur and Hyderabad. New locations under consideration are Raipur and Bengaluru.
Initially slated for a five-match series, set to commence immediately after the World Cup final, the matches were scheduled from November 23 to December 3. Owing to various factors, primarily state Assembly elections and the subsequent counting process, modifications to the schedule seem inevitable.
Sad news for Hyderabad and Nagpur fans :
Matches scheduled for India vs Australia T20 series set to be Shifted to Bangalore and Raipur.
4th T20i – From Nagpur will be shifted to Raipur.
5th T20i – From Hyderabad will be shifted to Bangalore.Feel for Hyderabad & Nagpur fans,… pic.twitter.com/NidcmlQsC5
— All About Cricket (@allaboutcric_) November 8, 2023
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently exploring alternative options and an official announcement is anticipated shortly. Cricket Australia (CA) has reportedly been informed about the potential alterations to the program.
Nagpur, the primary hub of the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), is undergoing stadium renovations in Jamtha, potentially rendering it unavailable for the matches. Although the BCCI has not formally notified the VCA, indications suggest the game might be relocated to Raipur.
The BCCI had initially intended to host a senior T20 women’s tournament at the venue, but had to change plans due to the absence of floodlights.
Chhattisgarh State is heading into elections in November (on 7 and 17), with counting scheduled for December 3, coincidentally the same day as the fifth and final T20I in Hyderabad. A new office-bearer from the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has indicated that the Telangana State Government might be unable to provide security for the match on that day, leading to considerations of relocating it to Bengaluru.
While Cuttack was also a contender, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) appears to be the favored choice. According to the existing schedule, Australia is set to commence the series against the hosts in Vizag on November 23, just three days after the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad on November 19.
The subsequent games are planned for Trivandrum on November 26 and Guwahati on November 28. A text message to the BCCI office-bearers remained unanswered as of the time of publication.
