Pakistan to Send Delegation for Security Inspection in India Ahead of World Cup

Karachi: Pakistan is planning to dispatch a security delegation to India to assess the venues before granting approval for the national cricket team’s travel to the neighbouring country for this year’s ICC ODI World Cup. The Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports) Ministry official source stated that the government, including the foreign and interior ministry, will finalize the visit once the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is elected after the Eid holidays.

The security delegation, accompanied by PCB representatives, will visit Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad—the venue for the much-anticipated India-Pakistan match on October 15. Their primary objective is to inspect the venues, as well as review the security and other arrangements made for the Pakistani players, officials, fans, and media during the World Cup.

As per standard practice, the cricket board seeks permission from the government before any tour to India, which usually results in a delegation being sent to assess the situation. The delegation will engage with Indian officials, hold discussions, and conduct inspections, ensuring the safety and well-being of all stakeholders.

If the delegation finds it necessary to suggest an alternative venue instead of the designated one, it will include this information in its report. The PCB will subsequently share the report with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in case there are any concerns.

Reports highlighted a similar occurrence during Pakistan’s previous visit to India for the 2016 T20 World Cup, where a joint delegation was sent by the government to inspect the venues. It was based on their recommendation that Pakistan’s match against India was relocated from Dharamsala to Kolkata.

Pakistan’s final decision regarding participation in the World Cup will be announced only after receiving clearance from the government. The ICC ODI World Cup is scheduled to take place across ten cities in India from October 5 to November 19.