Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s high-powered committee discussed the prospect of Pakistan participating in the upcoming cricket World Cup in India, linking the decision to International Cricket Council (ICC) and providing assurance for the security of Pakistani players. This decision was made during a meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and attended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf and other senior security officials.
Seeking Assurance from ICC
The committee’s plan, according to insiders, involves recommending that the PCB write to the ICC, requesting explicit security assurances due to the escalating violence and Islamophobia in India. This demand arises specifically from the violence in Manipur and attacks on Muslims in other Indian states. The committee decided that the government may consider sending the team to India if the ICC can guarantee security.
Weighing the Options and Potential Outcomes
With the Cricket World Cup scheduled in India for October and November, the Pakistani-Indian match slated for October 14 at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has triggered security concerns for the Pakistani team. The committee evaluated alternative proposals, including a hybrid World Cup model where Pakistan plays outside India, but dismissed them as potentially futile and embarrassing if the ICC rejected them. Ultimately, it appears likely that the government will decide to send the cricket team to India, with members advocating for a more pragmatic approach.
