WC: PCB unsure but ICC ‘confident’ Pak will travel to India

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hasn’t yet confirmed their participation in the ODI World Cup in October-November maintaining that they need a government clearance to tour India though the International Cricket Council (ICC) and BCCI remain confident of Babar Azam’s team’s presence for the showpiece event. The schedule was announced at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday. The ICC maintains that since PCB has signed the participation agreement, they have to abide by the same and there has been nothing to suggest anything to the contrary. “The PCB requires the government of Pakistan’s clearance for any tour to India, including the match venues. We are liaising with our government for guidance, and as soon as we hear something from them, we will update the Event Authority (ICC),” the PCB said in a statement. “This position is consistent to what we had told the ICC a couple of weeks ago when they shared with us the draft schedule and sought our feedback.” The ICC also announced that India will play their semi-final at the Wankhede in Mumbai while Pakistan at Eden Gardens. However, in the event of an India-Pakistan semi-final, the match will take place in Calcutta.