The BCCI has opted to hold the upcoming warm-up game between Pakistan and New Zealand on September 29 in Hyderabad without spectators due to security concerns arising from the coinciding Hindu festival of Ganesh Visarjan on September 28.
Fans who purchased tickets online will be disappointed, but the BCCI has assured full refunds for them. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is working closely with online ticketing platforms to ensure a seamless and prompt refund process.
The decision to bar fans from attending the match was made after Hyderabad police expressed their inability to provide the necessary security measures, citing the challenges of simultaneously managing security for the cricket match and the religious festival in an official statement.