ISLAMABAD -UNS: Prime Minister Shehbaz has formed a high-level committee to decide whether Pakistan national team would travel to India to participate in the 2023 ODI World Cup later this year.
The international event, which will be hosted by India, is scheduled to begin in October. The formation of the committee comes after Asia Cricket Council (ACC) gave go-ahead for the hybrid model to hold the Asia Cup tournament as India had refused to visit Pakistan.
Sources said Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would head the committee while Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Communication Minister Asad Mahmood, and other officials will be part of it. Officials of security departments have also been included in the committee.
The committee would present its recommendations regarding participation of the Pakistan team in the ODI World Cup in India to PM Shehbaz, who will then take the final decision.
Last month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had sought the government permission to participate in ODI World Cup.
In a letter written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), on behalf of the PCB, sought the government’s clearance to participate in the event to be hosted by India.
The PCB had also requested the government to scrutinise the expected security on the five venues offered to Pakistan for their World Cup matches in India. In the letter sent on June 27, the PCB had also sought the government’s advice on the venues.
The World Cup will start on Oct 5 with a repeat of the 2019 final as England take on New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Pakistan will take on India on October 15 in Ahmedabad. Hosts India begin their campaign on Oct 8 against five-time World Cup winners Australia in Chennai.
A total of 10 teams will participate at the showcase event, the first eight having already qualified through the Cricket World Cup Super League. The final two spots will be determined at the end of the Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe, which concludes on July 9.
Each team plays the other nine in a round robin format with the top four qualifying for the knockout stage and semi-finals.
