PCB Seeks Official Permission from Pakistan Government to Travel to India for ODI Cricket World Cup
Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally written to the Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Ministry of Home Affairs and External Affairs, requesting official permission for the Pakistani cricket team to travel to India for the upcoming ODI Cricket World Cup scheduled to take place in October and November. The strained political relations between the two countries require government authorization for any visit to India.
The letter, addressed to the Prime Minister and the Ministry, seeks clarification on whether the Pakistani team is allowed to travel to India and raises concerns regarding the five venues designated for Pakistan’s matches. Additionally, the PCB expresses its willingness to send a security delegation should the government consider it necessary.
According to PCB officials, it is within the rights of the Pakistan government to visit India and approve the playing venues. However, Pakistan’s national cricket team has not toured India since the Men’s Twenty20 World Cup of 2016. Over the past decade, the two teams have only competed against each other in tournaments, with no bilateral series taking place.
Pakistan’s Ministry of External Affairs has stated that the team’s participation in the World Cup is currently under evaluation, and they will communicate the decision to the PCB in due course. Notably, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recently visited India for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit, marking the first such visit by a Pakistani official in 12 years. Furthermore, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the Shanghai Cooperation meeting hosted by India on July 4.
Due to the impending end of the current government’s term in August, the final decision regarding the team’s travel to India is expected to be delayed until the new government assumes power. Consequently, an official announcement may not be made at this time by the present administration.
In a similar scenario in 2016, the Nawaz Sharif government granted last-minute permission for the team’s visit to India, prompted by a security monitoring delegation sent by the Pakistani government. Subsequently, the match between India and Pakistan was relocated from Dharamsala to Kolkata due to security concerns.
Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Ministry of Home Affairs and External Affairs seeking official permission to travel to India for the ODI Cricket World Cup to be held in October and November. Unlike visiting other countries, government permission is required to visit India due to the strained political relations between the two countries. The letter asks whether the Pakistan team is allowed to travel to India and, if so, concerns about the five venues where Pakistan will play. The PCB also indicated in the letter whether the government of Pakistan would like to send a security delegation.
PCB officials said the Pakistan government has the right to visit India and approve the playing venues. Pakistan have not toured India since the Men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2016. The two teams have not played each other in a series for over ten years. They only compete in tournaments.
Pakistan’s Ministry of External Affairs had earlier stated that it is evaluating the team’s participation in the World Cup and will inform the PCB in due course. Foreign Minister Bilwal Bhutto Zardari recently visited India for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in 12 years. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also attend the Shanghai Corporation meeting hosted by India on July 4.
As the term of government in Pakistan ends in August, the decision on whether the team will go to India is likely to be delayed until the next government takes over. The current government may not make an official announcement at this time.
The team got last-minute permission in 2016 after the Nawaz Sharif government sent a delegation to India for security monitoring. The match between India and Pakistan was shifted from Dharamsala to Kolkata due to security concerns.
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