The committee headed by Bilawal Bhutto, created by Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, will meet on Thursday to decide if Pakistan would participate in the World Cup in India. There is no hint of the committee taking a severe stance on the World Cup, but it may seek clearance for a security check in India before allowing Babar Azam’s players to compete in the October 5-November 19 event.
The committee, led by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, is scheduled to request permission for a security delegation to tour the grounds where the Pakistan team will play from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the hosts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“A high-profile meeting will decide on World Cup participation,” a top PCB official informed Cricbuzz on Tuesday evening, without providing any further specifics. Sports Minister Ahsan Mazari, Maryam Aurangzeb, Asad Mahmood, Amin ul Haq, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and former diplomat Tariq Fatmi are on the committee.
Even as the wait for the World Cup schedule continues, sources in the PCB say that the BCCI has alerted the Pakistan board about a possible modification in the schedule of a couple of games for its squad, one of which is the crucial game against India. Unconfirmed evidence implies that the India-Pakistan game could be moved earlier, rather than until October 14. Another possible modification is their match against the Netherlands, which is presently slated for October 6 in Hyderabad. The Pakistan-Sri Lanka match on October 12 may go ahead as planned. The venues will remain the same, as BCCI secretary Jay Shah has stated.
According to BCCI and ICC sources, the final schedule is expected this week, with four to six games possibly changing dates. The ticket sales timetable is also expected this week, with Paytm Insider being awarded the permission to sell the tickets online.
