Pakistan confirmed their participation in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India after releasing a statement via their ministry of foreign affairs.
In a press release Pakistan's foreign ministry expressed their concerns about the team's security, owing to the strained relations between the nations.
"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.
"Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations.
"Pakistan has deep concerns about the security of its Cricket Team. We are conveying these concerns to the International Cricket Council and the Indian authorities. We expect that full safety and security of Pakistan Cricket Team will be ensured during its visit to India," read the full statement.
Meanwhile, as the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 draws near, the PCB is contemplating to send a psychologist accompanying the team to India in order to help them handle the pressure in the mega event.
PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf's meeting with team captain Babar Azam will determine the final decision on this matter. Babar Azam is presently participating in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) and representing Colombo Strikers.
A PCB official noted, “Zaka is a big believer that having a psychologist with the players will help them, especially when they are not performing well or feeling external pressures of a tour to India."
The official emphasised the significance of a psychologist's presence for the Pakistan team, as this is their first trip to India since 2016.
The official recalled, “When Zaka Ashraf was Chairman (of PCB) he had got a well-known psychologist Maqbool Babri to work with the players and he also went with them to India in 2012/13.”
The official mentioned that Pakistani players had prior interactions with a sports psychologist before they travelled to India for the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Notably, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Ahmedabad will host Pakistan's World Cup 2023 matches.
International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to announce the change in schedule in the next few days after all teams agree to the changes made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Here's the new schedule –
Match Old date New date
India vs Pakistan October 15 October 14
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka October 12 October 10
New Zealand vs Netherlands October 9 October 12
England vs Afghanistan October 14 morning October 14 day/night
New Zealand vs Bangladesh October 14 October 15
Any match from double-header day can be shifted to October 9
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