The Pakistan government has finally given permission for the Men in Green to travel to India for the ICC World Cup 2023 – scheduled to take place in October.
The Foreign Office said in a statement on Sunday, “Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics. Hence, it has selected its cricket team to participate in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.” It has been decided to send it to India.”
It added that Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not be a hindrance in fulfilling its international sports obligations.
“Pakistan’s decision shows its constructive and responsible approach to India’s partisan attitude, 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 the complete safety and security of the Pakistan cricket team to be ensured during their tour of India,” the FO added.
The development comes days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s committee on Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup in India considered sending a delegation to review the security arrangements on Thursday.
The committee headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari included Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Ehsanur Rahman Mazari, heads of national security agencies and foreign affairs. Secretary
Officials who spoke to JEE News on condition of anonymity said that most of the participants in the meeting agreed that Pakistan should go to India to participate in the World Cup. However, there were some suggestions regarding Pakistan skipping the event as India is also not visiting Pakistan.
However, the sources also said that it was agreed that a security guarantee would be taken from India before the departure of the team.
Sources also said that Pakistan will contact India and ICC to send a security delegation. It added that he would visit India in the last week of August if there is an agreement to send a delegation.
Here is Pakistan’s schedule for ICC World Cup 2023:
October 6 — vs Holland at Hyderabad
October 12 – vs Sri Lanka at Hyderabad
October 15 – India Vs at Ahmedabad
October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru
October 23 – Afghanistan vs. Chennai
October 27 — vs. South Africa at Chennai
October 31 — vs. Bangladesh at Kolkata
November 4 – New Zealand vs Bengaluru (Match of the Day)
November 12 — vs. England at Kolkata
