No special treatment for Pakistan in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: The Ministry of External Affairs of India on Friday reiterated that Pakistan’s national cricket team would be subjected to no special treatment and that it will be treated just like any other team visiting India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
The statement from the ministry’s spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came after the Pakistani government cleared its national side to take part in the impending ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
“The Pakistan cricket team will be treated just like the cricket team of any other country participating in the ICC World Cup,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
Talking about the security arrangements, the MEA spokesperson said that all the necessary arrangements will be made and it would apply to all the participating countries not just Pakistan.
“Of course, we would hope that all necessary security will be provided not just to them but to all other participating teams.”
Notably, Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari sarcastically said that Pakistan always believes in good sporting relations between the two countries and it doesn’t mix sports with politics, which became the primary reason why Pakistan would travel to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which starts on October 5 in Ahmedabad.
“I hope that there is a good match and I hope this is not war as it seems to be made out to be,” said Mr Arindam Bagchi.
World Cup 2023 – Pakistan doesn’t mix sports with politics: PAK Government
It is important to note that Pakistan had formed a high-level committee which included the likes of the country’s Foreign Minister and Chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board among others, to give a detailed report following its due diligence on whether they should participate in the global cricket event or not.
The committee was to directly report to the Pakistan Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who then would make a final call on the basis of the report.
“Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics. It has, therefore, decided to send its cricket team to India to participate in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023,” a press release on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs read.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is slated to commence on October 5 in Ahmedabad with the finalists of the 2019 World Cup event – England and New Zealand – locking horns. Meanwhile, Pakistan would begin its campaign a day after the tournament opener against Netherlands in Hyderabad.
The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan game will be held on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Notably, the fixture was earlier scheduled to be held on October 15, however, due to security concerns the necessary changes were made by the responsible authorities.
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For more details head to ICC’s official website.