Irfan Pathan Defends Empty Stands in 2023 World Cup Opener Former Indian bowling all-rounder Irfan Pathan has come to the defense of empty stands at the Narendra Modi Stadium during the 2023 World Cup opener. The match featured the finalists of the 2019 World Cup, New Zealand and England, and took place at the world's largest stadium, with a seating capacity of over 1 lakh. However, as the match kicked off on Thursday afternoon, the stadium appeared eerily deserted, leading to criticism on