‘Nautanki kabhi nhi baand hoti’- Fans react as Pakistan PM’s appointed committee to have high profile meeting on Pakistan’s participation in 2023 World Cup

On Thursday, August 3, the Bilawal Bhutto-led committee, which is constituted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, will meet to discuss Pakistan’s participation in the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer has formally requested permission for his team’s participation in a letter to the Prime Minister.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari chairs the 14-member council, which also comprises the heads of national security institutions and the foreign secretary. Following the refusal of the Indian Cricket Board to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, certain voices in Pakistan encouraged the PCB to respond by refusing to send the team to India for the World Cup.

A high-profile meeting will decide on the World Cup participation: Pakistan Cricket Board

According to the reports, the Pakistan panel is unlikely to take any severe decisions. It might, however, be a general meet for a security check in India before approving the national cricket squad for the World Cup. The report quoted a top PCB official as saying: “A high-profile meeting will decide on the World Cup participation.”

The committee will ask the Cricket Governing Body and Indian Cricket Board, to give them permission to check security arrangements at the venues where Pakistan are scheduled to play their World Cup 2023 matches. Meanwhile, the PCB has agreed to shift the dates of its World Cup matches against arch-rivals India and Asian neighbours Sri Lanka.

According to the altered schedule, Pakistan will now play India on October 14 rather than October 15, while the Lankan Lions will play on October 10 rather than October 12. With the marquee match comprising the two arch-rivals set to be played in the world’s highest-capacity stadium, officials have said that venue would not change.

The lack of enough security deployment because of the Hindu festival of Navratri has led to a change in the eagerly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash. However, the Cricket Governing Body is yet to share the revised schedule. The 2023 World Cup will be played in India from October 5 to November 19. The tournament will kick off with a clash between England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad.

Here’s how fans reacted