In letter to PM, PCB seeks clearance for World Cup 2023

• PCB asks govt to scrutinise expected security at five venues.
• Pakistan scheduled to play first match against India on Oct 15.
• Pakistan team cannot travel to India if govt does not allow.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally written a letter to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif through the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) to seek the government's clearance on three counts in connection with Pakistan's participation in the ODI World Cup to be held in India in October this year.

The prime objective of the letter, a copy of which was also shared with the Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Interior, is to get the government's clearance to participate in the World Cup to be hosted by India.

The PCB has also requested the government to scrutinise the expected security on the five venues offered to Pakistan for their World Cup matches.

"The PCB has officially contacted the government to provide it guidance on its participation in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 in India," a PCB spokesperson when contacted said.

"Just after the World Cup schedule announcement, we wrote to our Patron, Honourable Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, through the Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ministry, sending the copy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Interior, requesting clearance to participate in the World Cup," he added.

In the letter sent on June 27, the PCB also sought the government's advice on the venues.

The ICC has earmarked five venues for Pakistan — 

• October 12 - vs Qualifier in Hyderabad
• October 15 - vs India in Ahmedabad
• October 20 - vs Australia in Bengaluru
• October 23 - vs Afghanistan in Chennai
• October 27 - vs South Africa in Chennai
• October 31 - vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
• November 5 - vs New Zealand Bengaluru
• November 12 - vs England in Kolkata

If Pakistan reach the semi-final, they will play in Kolkata. The final will be held in Ahmedabad on November 15.

"It is entirely up to the Government of Pakistan on the process it wants to formulate and follow before advising us on the next steps. If this requires sending an advance team to India to inspect the venues and hold meetings with the event organisers, then it will solely be the government's decision," the spokesperson added.

In 2016, the Pakistan government sent a three-person delegation to India on a recce tour for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2016, following which the ICC moved Pakistan's match against India from Dharamsala to Kolkata due to security reasons.

Originally published in The News