Pakistan security team to review arrangements at venues in India ahead of World Cup

Sports Desk

July 01, 2023

Pakistans Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam celebrate after winning the match against India. — Reuters/File — Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam celebrate after winning the match against India. — Reuters/File

Delegation to review security, arrangements at venues: sources.
Delegation likely to visit after PCB elects new chairman, say sources.
Visit likely after consultations with Interior Ministry, FO.

Pakistan is set to send its security delegation to India for inspection of the venues before giving clearance to the team to travel to the neighbouring country for this year's World Cup, sources told Geo News on Saturday.

According to the sources, the delegation will review the security and other arrangements at the venues designated for Pakistan's matches.

Furthermore, that the delegation will visit the arch-rival country after consultations with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the sources said.

The delegation will likely visit India's Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) elects a new chairman.

"The security delegation will go with representation from the PCB to inspect the venues where Pakistan will play and also the security and other arrangements made for them in the World Cup," an official source in the Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports) Ministry was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India on Saturday.

"Before any tour to India, it is standard practice for the cricket board to seek permission from the government which normally sends a delegation to India," the official said.

"The delegation will interact with the officials there and discuss and inspect with them the security and other arrangements for our players, officials, fans and media, who will go for the tournament.

"The PCB will share the report with the ICC and BCCI if the delegation has any concerns.”

Earlier, the PCB shared its official stance on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 after its schedule was released by the game’s governing body on Tuesday.

According to a PCB spokesperson, the board “requires the Government of Pakistan’s clearance for any tour to India, including the match venues”.

“We are liaising with our government for guidance, and as soon as we hear something from them, we will update the Event Authority [ICC]. This position is consistent with what we had told the ICC a couple of weeks ago when they shared with us the draft schedule and sought our feedback,” the spokesperson added.