Ahmedabad, India – In a significant development, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has established a prestigious committee, led by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, to deliberate on the national cricket team’s participation in the upcoming ODI World Cup, slated to be held in India later this year. The committee, consisting of eminent members, will thoroughly examine various facets of India-Pakistan relations, the government’s policy on maintaining a separation between sports and politics, and the prevailing situation in India concerning players, officials, fans, and the media. Subsequently, the committee will present its recommendations to Prime Minister Sharif, who also serves as the patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have already disclosed the eagerly awaited schedule for the World Cup, with the tournament set to commence on October 5. With the expectation that Pakistan will partake in the premier competition, the PCB has apprised the ICC and BCCI that their team’s involvement hinges upon obtaining governmental clearance, owing to the strained relations between the two nations. Alongside Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, the committee comprises Sports Minister Ahsan Mazari, Maryam Aurangzeb, Asad Mahmood, Amin-ul-Haq, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and former diplomat Tariq Fatmi.
To ensure player safety and security, Pakistan intends to dispatch a high-level security delegation to India, which will inspect the match venues where the Pakistani team is scheduled to play. Acting President of the Cricket Board, Zaka Ashraf, and Chief Operating Officer Salman Taseer will represent Pakistan in the International Cricket Council meeting held in Durban. During these discussions, Ashraf will raise the recurring issue of India’s reluctance to send its team to Pakistan, citing security concerns.
The highly anticipated match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is slated for October 15 at the colossal Ahmedabad stadium, touted as the world’s largest. Prior to this crucial encounter, Pakistan will engage in warm-up matches in Hyderabad, followed by their World Cup clashes against Netherlands and Sri Lanka at the same venue. Additionally, Pakistan’s team is scheduled to play matches in Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata. It is noteworthy that India and Pakistan face each other solely in the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments, intensifying the significance of their encounters.
The committee’s recommendations, once submitted to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, will play a pivotal role in shaping the final decision regarding Pakistan’s participation in the ODI World Cup in India. The outcome of this assessment will not only impact the cricketing landscape but also have broader implications for bilateral relations between the neighboring nations. Cricket enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the committee’s findings, which are poised to shape the course of one of the most celebrated cricket tournaments globally.
Read the latest sports news on The Eastern Herald.
