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Pakistan evaluating World Cup participation in India

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  • Pakistan’s participation in World Cup linked to govt approval.
  • FO says India’s policy of not playing in Pakistan is disappointing.
  • Green shirts last toured neighbouring country in 2012.

Amid doubts of a pullout from ICC World Cup 2023, the Foreign Ministry has said it was “evaluating all aspects” of Pakistan’s participation in this year’s 50-overs mega event in India.

Despite the stalemate over the venue for Asia Cup 2023 has ended, doubts continue to cast a shadow over Pakistan’s involvement in the World Cup 2023 in October-November. 

India’s stubbornness over Pakistan’s hosting of Asia Cup 2023 kept its hanging in the balance for over a month, as it refused to visit the country for the regional cricket tournament. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had threatened to pull out of World Cup 2023, scheduled in India.

The matter was resolved as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) greenlit PCB’s hybrid model for Asia Cup earlier this month, while the foreign ministry said Pakistan’s participation in World Cup was under evaluation.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan was of the view that “politics should not be mixed with sports”.

“India’s policy of not playing cricket in Pakistan is disappointing,” Baloch said in Islamabad on Thursday.

“We are observing and evaluating all aspects relating to our participation in the World Cup including the security situation for Pakistani cricketers and we will offer our views to PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) in due course.”

Doubts over Pakistan’s participation has meant that the dates and venues for the World Cup are yet to be confirmed with just over three months left before the start of the tournament.

It may be noted that the Men in Blue have not toured Pakistan since 2008 due to strained relations between the two countries. The last bilateral series between the arch-rivals took place in 2012, when Pakistan toured India for limited-overs matches.

Since then, the two countries have played each other only in multi-team events at neutral venues over the last decade.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was among the foreign ministers who travelled to India’s Goa last month for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, becoming the first senior Pakistani leader to visit India in nine years.

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Saim Ayub, who is injured, is traveling to London for treatment.

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Young Pakistani cricketer Saim Ayub, who incurred an injury during the second Test against South Africa, has traveled to London for medical treatment.

Assistant coach Azhar Mahmood is accompanying Saim Ayub on the journey. England’s premier sports orthopedic doctors will perform Saim’s examination tomorrow.

“Saim Ayub is an invaluable asset to Pakistan cricket,” declared Mohsin Naqvi. He guaranteed that all requisite resources would be allocated for Saim’s treatment and recuperation.

The injury has raised concerns among cricket fans, but the management is committed to ensuring Saim Ayub receives the best possible care.

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For their tour of Pakistan, the West Indies cricket team arrives in Islamabad.

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In preparation for their Test series against Pakistan, the West Indies cricket team has arrived in Islamabad under strict security protection.

The team arrived in Pakistan after a two-day rest stay in Dubai. They were taken to their hotel under strict security conditions after arriving.

From January 10 onwards, the West Indies team will practice against the Pakistan Shaheens for three days.

The two-match Test series between Pakistan and the West Indies is part of the tour, and cricket fans are looking forward to competitive play.

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Fakhar Zaman is anticipated to play for Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy.

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The Champions Trophy 2025, which will be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates from February 19 to March 9, is expected to feature calls for Pakistan’s standout left-handed hitter Fakhar Zaman.

A balanced lineup of seven batsmen, four fast bowlers, three spinners, and one wicketkeeper is reportedly being prepared by Pakistan, the reigning champions, as nations start to finalize their squads. It is anticipated that Pakistan’s captain, Muhammad Rizwan, will be the team’s only wicketkeeper.

The 34-year-old, who has played in 82 international One-Day matches for Pakistan, is still bound by fitness standards as part of his main contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board.

For the tours of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Australia, the left-handed batsman was left out of the squads.

He did, however, recently display his form in the Champions T20 tournament, scoring 303 runs at an average of 30.30 in ten games, including two half-centuries.

Read more: Fakhar Zaman defends Babar Azam in a tweet

In a previous interview with a private media outlet, the left-handed batter refuted rumors that he was upset with the PCB for resting Babar Azam.

Afterwards, I did believe that it would have been preferable if I hadn’t sent the tweet. But when asked if he could have prevented such a tweet, he responded, “People thought I was criticizing the board’s decision, which is completely incorrect.”

Fakhar Zaman clarified that he was tweeting in response to requests from journalists and retired cricket players to remove the outstanding batsman from the Pakistani team.

Zaman stated that he was feeling ill and had asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a two-month break.

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