Friday 15 / November / 2024
Muscat: Pakistan will send its cricket team to India to participate in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday.
The neighbouring countries, who share fraught relations, have played each other only in multi-team events at neutral venues over the last decade.
The press statement from the office of foreign ministry’s spokesperson said: “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.
“Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations. Pakistan's decision shows its constructive and responsible approach vis-à-vis Indian’s intransigent attitude as the latter had refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.”
Earlier, Pakistan cricket team had said they would require government permission to travel to India for the World Cup though the ICC is hopeful of their participation.
The statement added that “Pakistan, however, has deep concerns about the security of its cricket team. We are conveying these concerns to the International Cricket Council and the Indian authorities.”
