ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Interior and Legal Affairs Attaullah Tarar has backed Pakistan’s tour to India for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.
Tarar is part of a 14-member committee, headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, that will recommend Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Pakistan's participation in the World Cup.
“Cricket should be kept separate from politics. If India don’t want to tour Pakistan it's their call but Pakistan should definitely go to India for the World Cup,” Tarar told Geo News.
“We have not spoken to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup, yet. However, the PM is keen on ensuring the promotion of sports in the country,” he added.
He also considers Pakistan as the favourites for the clash against India in the Cricket World Cup.
“If we want to beat our enemy, it is ideal to do that on their home ground,” he said.
“Pakistan team is better than India. When Babar Azam and Virat Kohli are compared, people say that Babar is better. India also don’t have a fast-bowler like Shaheen Afridi.
“I want Babar Azam to score a century against India in the World Cup and Shaheen Afridi to dismiss Virat Kohli.”
While referring to the pending decision of committee formed, SAPM said every committee member has a right to give an opinion and must be given respect.
"PCB comes under IPC Minister Ehsan Mazari and he thinks Pakistan should not travel to India. He is my friend and I respect his opinion whole heartedly," he said.
Tarar was also keen on seeing Pakistan win the trophy in India.
"This is one of the dreams to see Pakistan lift the trophy of World Cup on Indian soil. Winning a World Cup is special but the importance of Pakistan winning the ICC trophy in India will be something unprecedented," he concluded.
Here is Pakistan's schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023:
October 6 - vs Netherlands in Hyderabad
October 12 - vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
October 15 - vs India in Ahmedabad
October 20 - vs Australia in Bengaluru
October 23 - vs Afghanistan in Chennai
October 27 - vs South Africa in Chennai
October 31 - vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
November 4 - vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
November 12 - vs England in Kolkata
The day matches which will start at 10:00am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures starting at 01:30pm (PST).
If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals, they will play in Kolkata.
If India qualify for the semi-finals, they will play in Mumbai unless playing against Pakistan, in which case they will play in Kolkata.
The Cricket World Cup will be played in the round-robin format with all teams playing against each other for a total of 45 league matches.
The top four teams will qualify for the semifinals, which will be held in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16. The semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.
Arfa Feroz Zake