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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stated that it will need to obtain clearance from the government before confirming its participation in the upcoming World Cup. The PCB's response came after the schedule for the tournament was announced, raising concerns that their requests and objections were not taken into account.
A spokesman for the PCB expressed that clearance from the Government of Pakistan is necessary for any tour to India, including matches at the designated venues. The board is currently in communication with the government to seek guidance on the matter. Once a response is received, the PCB will update the International Cricket Council (ICC) Event Authority accordingly. However, the spokesman did not provide any indication of their views on the final program.
Despite this, insiders at the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have expressed confidence that the Pakistan team will indeed travel to India for the tournament.
One of the PCB's objections pertains to the India-Pakistan game scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad. They had expressed a desire to play in either Chennai or Bengaluru instead. Additionally, they requested the BCCI and ICC to switch their games against Afghanistan and Australia, which are currently scheduled in Chennai and Bengaluru.
The ICC responded by stating that they have had no indication from the PCB regarding their participation. They reiterated that Pakistan is a signatory to the members' participation agreement and emphasized their expectation for Pakistan's presence in the tournament.
The BCCI and PCB have been engaged in a dispute over the scheduling of multi-national events, including the Asia Cup. The PCB had to yield to pressure from the Asian boards, primarily led by the BCCI, and agree to a hybrid model for the continental championship, with matches unevenly split between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan's campaign in the World Cup is set to begin on October 6 with a match against Qualifier 1 in Hyderabad. This will be followed by a match against Qualifier 2 on October 12. The highly anticipated clash against India is scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad on October 15. Pakistan's remaining matches are scheduled for various venues, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.
The BCCI and ICC have clarified that if Pakistan qualifies for the semifinals, their match will be held in Kolkata, even if their opponents are India, who have been designated Mumbai as their semifinal venue, should they progress to that stage.
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