Breaking News: Pakistan’s Cricket Team Confirms Participation in 2023 World Cup in India

On Sunday, Pakistan’s national cricket team received a green flag from the Foreign Office in Islamabad, indicating their approval to participate in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India.

The Pakistani government has given its senior men’s team the green light to travel to India for the 2023 World Cup. However, they expressed some concerns regarding the security of their team and assured they would inform the ICC and BCCI about it.

The 50-over World Cup is scheduled to be held in India from October 5th to November 19th. The much-anticipated match between the arch-rivals will take place on October 14th in Ahmedabad, not on October 15th, as previously thought, alongside the International Cricket Council (ICC). However, the official confirmation from ICC is still pending.

In a press release by the Foreign Ministry, it was stated that Pakistan consistently believes that sports should not be mixed with politics. Therefore, they have decided to send their team to India for the upcoming World Cup.

However, the Ministry also emphasized that Pakistan is deeply concerned about the security of their cricket team, and they will keep ICC and Indian authorities informed about it. “We hope that during the India tour, the complete security of the Pakistan cricket team will be ensured,” the statement further mentioned.

This decision by Pakistan reflects their constructive and responsible approach towards India’s previous refusal to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup. The prolonged uncertainty surrounding the 50-over event’s participation by the national team has come to an end.

This all began when former cricketer and PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja, stated that Pakistan would not send their team to India in retaliation for not participating in the Asia Cup 2023.

India had declined to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup in October 2022. After negotiations, it was eventually agreed to host the 50-over Asia Cup in Pakistan, starting on August 30th, with four matches to be played, and Sri Lanka hosting the final.

A few days ago, PCB wrote a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, officially seeking permission for the team’s trip to India for the 50-over competition. The letter was also addressed to the Interior and Foreign Ministries.

Shehbaz Sharif formed a high-level committee, under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, to make a decision on Pakistan’s participation in the mega event.

However, there were reports that a security delegation was being sent to those venues in India where Pakistan will be playing before approval was granted.

The last time Pakistan team visited India for the ICC World T20 in 2016.