'Have deep concerns about security': Pakistan expresses worry to ICC, BCCI despite giving team World Cup 2023 clearance

After months of limbo, the Pakistan cricket team on Sunday finally received the green light from their ministry of foreign affairs to participate in the World Cup 2023 starting October 5 in India. Despite strenuous political relations between the two countries, Babar Azam and his squad of 15 will visit India for cricket's showpiece event, marking their first tour of the country since 2016 World T20. Having said that, the Pakistan government is still not entirely trusting of the Indian government as far as security in the country goes and has hence written to the BCCI and ICC to ensure its team assured safety.

"Pakistan however 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 the full safety and security of the Pakistan cricket team will be ensured during its visit to India," the release stated.

A part of Pakistan's 'concerns' stem from the ongoing schedule dilemma surrounding the World Cup 2023. Despite announcing the full-fledged schedule last month, the BCCI backtracked and announced that a new itinerary is in the works after three Full Members raised objections to the original schedule. This further led to the rescheduling of the blockbuster India vs Pakistan tie to October 14 from its original date of October 15. Although it was earlier reported that the game was preponed because October 15 is the first day of Navratri, the BCCI was quick to dispel this theory.

And while there is already some ruckus caused due to the change in IND-PAK date – resulting in mass disappointment for the travelling fans who had already booked tickets and made reservations – latest reports claim that the Cricket Association of Bengal has now requested the BCCI to tweak the date for the Pakistan vs England game as well. Although nothing has been made official yet, CAB has urged the BCCI to move the game at the Eden Gardens to November 11, as earlier proposed to November 12, the date of the Hindu festival Kali Puja. ESPNCricinfo reported that the Kolkata Police informed CAB that managing security for both Kali Puja and a World Cup game involving Pakistan could prove to be a bit of a hassle.

The PCB apparently isn't too pleased with the constant rejigging of the World Cup schedule affecting Pakistan. The first advancement has already created a domino effect since October 14 was already a double-header day. Making it a triple-decker will result in a logistical nightmare for the BCCI, meaning that one of the matches - either New Zealand vs Bangladesh or England vs Afghanistan will likely be contested on another date.

Pakistan out to break 31-year-long hoodoo

Pakistan, who open their World Cup 2023 campaign against the Netherlands on October 6, are scheduled to play their World Cup matches in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. The Narendra Modi Stadium is currently the venue for Pakistan's game against India, which will be the first-ever INDO-PAK World Cup match-up in the country since the 2011 World Cup semifinal. For Pakistan, the game holds plenty of significance as they will be out to break a 31-year-old deadlock against India, who lead them 7-0 at 50-over World Cups.

India notched up wins over Pakistan in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015 and 2019 – more importantly the margin of wins was convincing. With Pakistan having already broken India's streak of World Cup wins against them at the 2021 T20 World Cup, the 50-overs is where the wait has been really an agonising one. They have time to prepare for the high-octane battle, with the two teams squaring off potentially thrice in the upcoming Asia Cup.