The Pakistani government has finally granted permission for the Men in Green to go to India for the ICC World Cup 2023, which will take place in October.
“Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports and politics should not be mixed.” As a result, it has decided to send a cricket team to India to compete in the next ICC Cricket World Cup 2023,” stated the Foreign Office in a statement on Sunday.
It went on to say that Pakistan thinks that the situation of bilateral relations with India should not prevent it from completing its international sporting obligations.
“Pakistan’s decision demonstrates its constructive and responsible approach in contrast to India’s obstinate stance, as the latter refused to send its Cricket Team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.”
However, the government expressed deep concerns about the security of its cricket team.
“We are conveying these concerns to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Indian authorities. We expect that full safety and security of the Pakistan Cricket Team will be ensured during its visit to India,” the FO added.
The development comes a few days after the committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup in India considered sending a delegation to review security arrangements on Thursday.
The committee, headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, comprised Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of Inter-Provincial Coordination Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari, chiefs of the national security institutions, and foreign secretary.
According to officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the majority of conference participants agreed that Pakistan should travel to India to compete in the World Cup. However, some have suggested that Pakistan skip the event because India will not be visiting Pakistan.
However, the sources also stated that there was general agreement that a security guarantee would be obtained from India prior to the team’s departure.
According to the reports, Pakistan would contact India and the ICC about deploying a security delegation. It further stated that if a delegation is agreed upon, it will visit India in the last week of August.
Here is Pakistan’s schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023:
October 6 — vs Netherlands in Hyderabad
October 12 — vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
October 15 — vs India in Ahmedabad
October 20 — vs Australia in Bengaluru
October 23 — vs Afghanistan in Chennai
October 27 — vs South Africa in Chennai
October 31 — vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
November 4 — vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
November 12 — vs England in Kolkata
