The bilateral cricket ties between arch-nemesis India and Pakistan have been suspended due to persistent geopolitical tensions between them. Last time Pakistan played an international game in India was in 2008 during the 50-over Asia Cup. Announcement of ICC Men’s 2023 ODI World Cup schedule was delayed since Pakistan wasn’t happy with the draft schedule shared with them. Especially after PCB was forced to host the 2023 Asia Cup in a hybrid model, in collaboration with Sri Lanka. Major controversy erupted as ICC’s draft schedule says that Pakistan will square off against India on October 15 at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad in a World Cup match. Despite PCB’s allegations of politics and bias in allocating venues, no change was made in the schedule by ICC.

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As per PTI, while addressing a press conference, Pakistan captain Babar Azam asserted that the recent changes in the PCB leadership and selection committee will not have any bearing on the national team’s performance in the ICC World Cup.

“We don’t focus on what is happening in the PCB. We just focus on cricket. We have the entire schedule of our coming matches before us and we know what needs to be done to win matches as professionals,” Babar said as per PTI.

Regarding the October-November World Cup in India, he said, “We are not thinking only about playing and winning against India in the World Cup. We are looking at doing well in every match if we are to win the ICC title.

“We are going to play the World Cup not just India in India.”

Asked how much pressure was there on the players knowing they had to go to India for the World Cup, Babar said as a team they were prepared to play anywhere.

“We have to play the World Cup wherever it is held and we are excited about the challenges ahead of us,” he said. He also said that the Pakistan team is working its plans for the Asia Cup and World Cup keeping in mind its strengths and the conditions in the host countries. The Pakistan skipper said that the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka would be challenging as it is the start of the new World Test Championship cycle for them.

Pakistan skipper on head coach Mickey Arthur

“We will be guided by Mickey Arthur in Sri Lanka as he had also remained their coach and knows the conditions there well,” he said.