'Sports Should Not Be Mixed With Politics': Pakistan Confirms ODI World Cup Participation In India

ODI World Cup 2023: The Pakistan government has formally given a green signal to its senior men's cricket team to participate in the marquee ICC event.

India captain Rohit Sharma (Left) and Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. As per the current schedule, India and Pakistan are set to meet on October 15 in Ahmedabad at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 but a date change is expected with the fixture likely to be advanced to October 14.

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Ending all speculation on Pakistan's participation in the forthcoming ICC Men's ODI World Cup in India, the Pakistan government on Sunday (August 6) gave clearance to the senior men's side to travel to India for the marquee global cricket tournament. An official release from the country's foreign ministry said that Pakistan believes that sports should not be mixed with politics which is why it has come to this decision.

"Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics. It has, therefore, decided to send its Cricket Team to India to participate in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023," the release said.

The ministry did have its concerns with regards to the security of its team which it said would be conveyed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) as well as the Indian authorities.

"We expect that full safety and security of Pakistan Cricket Team will be ensured during its visit to India," the release added.



Notably, as many as 10 teams are set to take part in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup in India commencing on October 5. The Pakistan side, which in all likelihood will be led by Babar Azam, are set to play their matches across five venues in India- Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. While they will begin their campaign against Netherlands on October 6 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, they have a match against Sri Lanka next at the same venue before their high-stakes encounter against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad.

Even though the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka and Pakistan vs India matches are currently scheduled on October 12 and October 15 respectively, a change in schedule is expected with security agencies informing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about possible issues with managing security in Ahmedabad as the match clashes with the start of Navaratri- a festival celebrated with fervour and mass participation in Gujarat.

Following this input from the agencies, BCCI and ICC are mulling to reschedule the India vs Pakistan match on October 14 which means Pakistan's game against Sri Lanka will also need to be advanced but the venues are set to remain the same. Pakistan will meet Australia in Bengaluru on October 20, lock horns with Afghanistan on October 23 in Chennai, play South Africa at the same venue on October 27 before travelling to Kolkata for their match against Bangladesh on October 31. 

The Men in Green are scheduled to square off against New Zealand in Bengaluru on November 4 before they go head-to-head against England on November 12 in Kolkata. Should Pakistan manage to secure a place in the semis, they will remain in Kolkata for that fixture. The final will be played in Ahmedabad.