According to reports from Cricbuzz, a crucial decision related to Pakistan’s participation in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will be made on Thursday, August 3rd. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a high-profile committee, led by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, to assess the situation and make a final decision.
The committee, which includes Sports Minister Ahsan Mazari, Maryam Aurangzeb, Asad Mahmood, Amin ul Haq, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and Tariq Fatmi (a former diplomat), will convene to discuss Pakistan’s participation in the marquee tournament, scheduled to be held in India in October-November.
As per the reports, the committee appears convinced about Pakistan’s team participating in the World Cup. However, before making a final call, they might send a security delegation to India to assess the situation and ensure the safety of the players and officials.
Pakistan is scheduled to play their matches in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad. Their campaign begins with a match against the Netherlands on October 6th at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, followed by a game against Sri Lanka at the same venue.
The World Cup schedule for Pakistan is also expected to see some changes. According to various media reports, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah revealed that they will soon announce a new schedule with minor modifications due to concerns raised by 2-3 full members.
It has been learned that Pakistan’s match against Sri Lanka, originally scheduled for October 12th, shifted to October 10th at the same venue in Hyderabad. Additionally, the highly anticipated clash against India has been preponed to October 14th from the initial date of October 15th in Ahmedabad. The ICC and BCCI have conveyed these changes to the PCB, which has reportedly agreed to the adjustments.
