The government of Pakistan has finally given the Men in Green permission to go to India for the ICC World Cup 2023, which will take place in October. It also said that Pakistan thinks that its international sports responsibilities should not be affected by its relations with India. But the government said it worried about the cricket team’s safety.
A few days ago, a committee set up by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to talk about Pakistan’s involvement in the World Cup in India was thinking about sending a group to India on Thursday to check on security plans.
Pakistan’s ICC World Cup team travels to India
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was in charge of the committee. It included 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 the foreign secretary.
Under the condition of secrecy, officials said most people at the meeting agreed that Pakistan should go to India to play in the World Cup. But there were some ideas that Pakistan might not go because India isn’t coming to Pakistan either. But the sources also said that everyone agreed that India would have to give a security promise before the team left.
The sources also said Pakistan would talk to India and the ICC about sending a security team. It also said that if sending a team is agreed upon, it will go to India in the last week of August.
“Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics. It has, therefore, decided to send its cricket team to India to participate in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023,” the Foreign Office said in a statement on Sunday.
“Pakistan’s decision shows its constructive and responsible approach vis-à-vis India’s intransigent attitude. As the latter had refused to send its Cricket Team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.”
“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.
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
