R Krishna Das
The much-awaited World Cup schedule for 2023 has been released but uncertainty prevails over Pakistan touring India for the International event.
As per the schedule, Pakistan will be playing the first match in Hyderabad. The authorities are comfortable with the maiden match venue. But the scheduled match in Ahmedabad has put them in a fix.
Pakistan will open their campaign by playing the two qualifiers from the tournament in Hyderabad on October 6 and 12, before taking on India at the 132,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s biggest cricket venue, in Gujarat’s capital Ahmedabad. Pakistan had earlier expressed reservations about playing in Ahmedabad.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had raised concerns even over playing in Mumbai. The International Cricket Council (ICC) made sure that Pakistan didn’t travel to India’s financial hub.
Soon after the schedule was out, the PCB said that it would still need government clearance for any tour to India, including World Cup match venues. “The PCB requires the government of Pakistan’s clearance for any tour to India, including the match venues,” PCB Communications Director Sami Ul Hasan said in a statement.
“We are liaising with our government for guidance. This position is consistent with what we had told the ICC a couple of weeks ago when they shared with us the draft schedule and sought our feedback,” he added.
The uncertainty prevails as Pakistan and India have been involved in a bitter dispute over the Asia Cup just four months before the tournament begins. While India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in August and September, and Pakistan responded by threatening to boycott the World Cup if they were not allowed to stage at least some Asia Cup matches on home soil.
The stalemate was finally resolved this month when Pakistan agreed to split matches with Sri Lanka, where India will play their Asia Cup matches.
Sources said the PCB had approached the government for two separate clearances; travelling to India in the first place and then for playing at certain venues.
The Dawn reported that when approached for comment, the Foreign Office reiterated the stance it put forth last week, i.e. the country is “observing and evaluating all aspects” relating to participation in the World Cup, including the security situation for Pakistani cricketers and “we will offer our views to PCB in due course”.
