IND vs PAK is set to be hosted in Ahmedabad on October 15 (Twitter)
According to the latest reports, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has set up a high-level committee, headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, to decide on the Babar Azam-led team's participation in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
The committee will thoroughly investigate and discuss every aspect of Pakistan and India relations, the government’s policy of keeping sports and policy apart, and the situation in India for the players, officials, fans, and media.
Following a comprehensive investigation, the committee will present its report to Shahbaz Sharif, who currently holds the position of the patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led committee also includes Sports Minister Ahsan Mazari, Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Maryam Aurangzeb, Asad Mahmood, Amin ul Haq, Qamar Zaman Kaira, former diplomat Tariq Fatmi, and other high-profile members of intelligence agencies.
Earlier, both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced the World Cup schedule and expect Pakistan to travel to India for the marquee event, starting October 5.
However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has conveyed to them that the national team's participation in the prestigious event is contingent upon government clearance, given the tense relations between the two nations.
The two neighbours last played a bilateral series back in 2012 when Pakistan travelled to India for three T20Is and as many ODIs. Meanwhile, India last travelled to Pakistan in 2008 for the 50-over Asia Cup.
The political tension between the two nations has resulted in the suspension of bilateral cricket ties. They only compete against each other in ICC events. The most recent encounte between them took place in Australia during the T20 World Cup 2022, where India emerged victorious, defeating Pakistan by four wickets.
This time, the much-awaited World Cup game between India and Pakistan will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15. The Men in Green will play two warm-up matches in Hyderabad before commencing their World Cup campaign against Netherlands and Sri Lanka, all set to take place at the same venue.
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