Pakistan Govt Nod Needed To Participate In India-Hosted Cricket World Cup, Says PCB Spokesperson

The 2023 ODI World Cup, hosted by India, will feature a highly anticipated India-Pakistan group match on 15 October at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule for the tournament on Tuesday. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stated that it needs clearance from the government of Pakistan before confirming its participation in the tournament.

The PCB spokesperson explained that they are in communication with their government to seek guidance, and once they receive a response, they will update the event authority. This aligns with their earlier communication with the ICC when they shared the draft schedule and sought feedback.

Despite this, the ICC remains confident that Pakistan will ultimately travel to India to compete in the World Cup. Pakistan has already signed the participation agreement, and there have been no indications suggesting otherwise.

The ICC spokesperson emphasized their focus on delivering a 10-team men's World Cup with Pakistan's participation being integral to the event.

They acknowledged that all member countries must abide by their respective rules and laws, and they respect Pakistan's process. However, they expressed confidence that Pakistan will be present for the tournament in India.

Regarding the schedule and venues, the PCB raised objections, particularly concerning matches against Afghanistan and Australia. However, the ICC rejected the PCB's request to switch venues.

The PCB had proposed relocating the match against Afghanistan from Chennai to Bengaluru and the game against Australia from Bengaluru to Chennai.

The Pakistan team management expressed concerns about playing in Chennai's Chepauk Stadium due to its historical advantage for spinners, which they believed would put them at a disadvantage against Afghanistan, who possesses quality spinners.

It is worth noting that Pakistan's last visit to India was in 2016 for the T20 World Cup.