Pakistan is set to send a security delegation to India to inspect the venues before giving clearance for the national team’s travel to the neighboring country for this year’s ICC ODI World Cup. The Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports) Ministry of Pakistan stated that the government would decide when to send the security delegation to India after the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board is elected. The delegation will comprise representatives from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and will visit Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad. These cities are the venues for Pakistan’s matches in the World Cup. The purpose of the inspection is to assess the security and other arrangements made for the players, officials, fans, and media. The delegation will interact with Indian officials and discuss any concerns they may have regarding security. If the delegation feels it would be preferable for Pakistan to play at an alternate venue, it will mention this in its report. The PCB will then share the report with the ICC and BCCI. This process is a standard practice for any tour to India as the cricket board seeks permission from the government and a delegation is typically sent to inspect the venues and assess the security arrangements. It may be recalled that during Pakistan’s previous visit to India for the T20 World Cup, a joint delegation was sent by the government to inspect the venues. Following their recommendations, Pakistan’s match against India, which was initially scheduled in Dharamsala, was moved to Kolkata. The final confirmation of Pakistan’s participation in the ODI World Cup will be announced after the government gives clearance to the PCB. It is worth noting that clearance from the government for tours to India is a standard procedure not only for cricket but also for other sports. The Pakistan Hockey Federation, for instance, is awaiting clearance to send its team for the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai, while the national football team recently played in the SAFF Championship in Bengaluru only after receiving a last-minute No Objection Certificate from the government. The ODI World Cup is scheduled to be played across 10 Indian cities from October 5 to November 19.
