Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs on Sunday confirmed that the national cricket team will participate in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 which is being hosted by India.
The decision was taken a month after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a high-level panel led by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to determine if the team should travel to India for the tournament. This was the first time such a committee was formed as normally Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) consults with the Foreign Ministry before traveling to India.
In a statement issued by the foreign ministry, Islamabad said it “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 ministry also said that “Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations.”
According to the statement, 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.”
Pakistan noted however, that it has deep concerns about the security of its team and said it has conveyed concerns to the International Cricket Council and the Indian authorities. “We expect that full safety and security of Pakistan Cricket Team will be ensured during its visit to India.”
Speculation has been rife for the past few months as to whether Pakistan would in fact send its team to India.
