LAHORE: The ICC World Cup 2023 trophy tour of Pakistan will be rescheduled since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still awaiting approval from the government over participation in the mega event in India.
The World Cup trophy was supposed to be in Pakistan for five days from July 31 to August 4.
The PCB will suggest ICC new dates for the trophy tour after it gets the nod from the government, according to sources.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy is set to travel to 18 countries around the world. Countries that are not a part of the World Cup will also get a chance to receive the trophy for some days.
The trophy will also visit countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Nigeria, Uganda, France, Italy, and the United States of America.
The Trophy Tour began on June 27 in India and will return to the host nation on September 4.
It must be noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-formed committee on World Cup in India will have their first meeting on the matter this Thursday.
According to the sources, the committee's head FM Bilawal Bhutto will chair the meeting which will also be attended by the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf.
In the meeting, Pakistan's participation in the World Cup in India would be discussed. The members will also review Ahmedabad as the venue for the high-octane Pakistan vs India clash.
The 14-member committee includes foreign minister, interior minister, the law minister, the Inter-Provincial Coordination minister, the information and broadcasting minister, the adviser on Kashmir affairs, the adviser on Establishment, the foreign secretary, PSPM and representatives of secret agencies and sensitive departments.
The committee will send its recommendations to the PM who will make the final call on the country's participation in the mega event.
It must be noted that 10 teams will fight for the elusive title across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting the tournament opener and the final.
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.