Pakistan government clears Pakistan Cricket Team's participation in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Pakistan Cricket Team will tour India for first time in 7 years since the T20 World Cup 2016.

After much deliberation among the authorities, the Pakistan government officially cleared the way for the Pakistan Cricket Team to visit India for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Leaving the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 would have been a disastrous step for Pakistan amid their tussle with the BCCI they kept on extending the date to take this certain call.

Pakistan’s Ministry of foreign affairs took this call saying Sports should not be mixed with politics. Earlier Pakistan threatened to boycott the event due to their tussle with the BCCI regarding Asia Cup 2023. 

Pakistan Foreign Affairs ministry issues statement

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement announcing the Pakistan team will be visiting India. The statement reads, “Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics. It has decided to send its Cricket team to India to participate in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations.” Earlier, Pakistan raised security concerns after Ahmedabad was picked as the venue for the India clash. 

Pakistan in an official statement blamed India for their ‘intransigent’ attitude, “Pakistan’s decision shows its constructive and responsible approach vis-a-vis India’s intransigent attitude, as the latter had refused to send its Cricket team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.”

India refused to send their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023. Asia Cup was scheduled to be played in Pakistan entirely but due to BCCI’s refusal to send the Indian team, the tournament now will be played in a hybrid model along with Sri Lanka as co-hosts. Even the India vs Pakistan game will be played in Sri Lanka. 

Pakistan asked to make a few changes in their schedule after the BCCI decided to have a shift in dates for the big business India vs Pakistan game at Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. Pakistan asked the authorities to shift the dates of their opening encounter against the Netherlands in Hyderabad and their second game against Sri Lanka in Kolkata. CAB also requested to change the dates of Pakistan’s clash against England at Eden Gardens. The new schedule will be out soon with a few games being played earlier or later. 

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