Will Pakistan visit India for World Cup 2023? Pak Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is leading a special committee which will review security arrangements in all five venues and take a call. As of now, whether Babar Azam & Co will visit India remains doubtful. The committee is likely to visit India end of August.
With the BCCI and Indian government refusing to send India Cricket Team to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023, things have been complex between the two nations. As diplomatic ties remain severed, Pakistan is now trying to play hardball over World Cup.
It should be noted that it was BCCI which forced the Asia Cup partially out of Pakistan. Despite opposition from Pakistan Cricket Board, BCCI remained adamant. A last-minute deal was worked out. It helped PCB retain 4 Asia Cup Games in exchange for the WC visit.
Also Read: Postponed India vs Afghanistan ODI Series schedule confirmed by Jay Shah
However, it’s not PCB’s decision alone. Last week, PCB wrote to Pakistan PM Shehbaz Shariff asking for approval on the India visit.
As a result, the Pak government has formed a committee, led by Bilawal Bhutto. The committee will scrutinise the security of all five venues including the highly debatable Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Apart from Ahmedabad, Pakistan play in Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata.
The committee will take the final call on Pakistan’s visit to India.
Who are on the special committee?
- Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
- 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
- Foreign Secretary
To note, Pakistan forced a change in venue in the 2016 T20 WC. India vs Pakistan match in Dharamsala was moved to Kolkata after Pakistan’s security team objected.
Pakistan World Cup Schedule:
- October 12 – vs Qualifier 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 5 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru
- November 12 – vs England in Kolkata
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