Reports: Bilawal Bhutto-led committee to take call on Pakistan’s participation in World Cup on Thursday

Pakistan Cricket Team. (Photo Source: RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP via Getty Images)

The committee presided over by Bilawal Bhutto under the appointment of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, is set to convene and decide upon Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming World Cup which is going to be hosted in India.

The committee does not seem inclined to adopt a rigid stance regarding the World Cup, yet it may seek approval for a comprehensive security inspection in India before giving the green signal for Babar Azam’s team to join the marquee tournament held between October 5 and November 19.

Heading this committee is Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, whose anticipated move involves requesting the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the host, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to grant permission for a security delegation to inspect the venues where Pakistan’s cricket team will compete.

“A high-profile meeting will decide on the World Cup participation,” conveyed a senior PCB official to Cricbuzz on a Tuesday evening, refraining from revealing further details. Noteworthy members of the committee encompass Sports Minister Ahsan Mazari, Maryam Aurangzeb, Asad Mahmood, Amin ul Haq, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and Tariq Fatmi, a former diplomat.

Amidst the ongoing anticipation concerning the World Cup schedule, insiders in the PCB divulge that the BCCI has communicated a potential alteration in the dates for a couple of games concerning the Pakistan team, one of them being their highly anticipated match against India.

The latest reports indicate that the India-Pakistan clash might be rescheduled to October 14. Furthermore, Pakistan’s match against the Netherlands, originally planned for October 6 in Hyderabad, could also change. And, the Pakistan-Sri Lanka game slated for October 12 might change too. As previously stated by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, the venues shall remain unchanged.

Sources from both the BCCI and ICC speculate that the final schedule shall be unveiled during the upcoming week, possibly leading to alterations in dates for four to six games. Additionally, the timeline for ticket sales is expected this week, with Paytm Insider poised to acquire the license to facilitate online ticket sales.