While approving the decision to send its team to India for the World Cup 2023, the Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted that the bilateral tensions with India won’t come in the way of international “obligations” such as the ICC tournaments.
The Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Sunday that the Babar Azam-led unit will travel to India later in the year for the World Cup 2023, which will be played from October 5 to November 19.
It was a strong statement from the foreign affairs ministry stating that politics will not be mixed with sports.
“Pakistan 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,” a statement from the Pakistani foreign ministry read.
“Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations.”
The foreign ministry took a dig at the BCCI and the Indian government for not sending Rohit Sharma’s side for the Asia Cup 2023 to Pakistan. Hence, the Asia Cup 2023 will be played in hybrid-model in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with India’s games to be played in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan bowed down to BCCI’s power to forcing the Asia Cup into a hybrid-model, but the ministry did took a jibe in its statement.
The statement further added: “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, however, has deep concerns about the security of its Cricket Team. We are conveying these concerns to the ICC and the Indian authorities. We expect that full safety and security of Pakistan will be ensured during its visit to India.”
In the recent weeks, Pakistani government officials have travelled to India to check the security arrangements at the different venues that the Men In Green will play in, with some PCB officials already expressing concern about playing in Ahmedabad.
When is India vs Pakistan World Cup 2023 match?
The marquee clash for the showpiece event, between India and Pakistan, will be played in Ahmedabad on October 14, now pre-ponded from the originally scheduled date of October 15.
