The federal government has expressed serious concerns about the safety and security of the Pakistan cricketers and has refused issuance of NOC to the team to travel to India to participate in the ODI World Cup scheduled in October this year.
‘The News’ has learned from well-placed sources that the federal government has refused permission for the team to travel or to finalise any plans to participate in the World Cup.
The government has communicated to the PCB that in wake of atrocities against Indian Muslims and the hatred shown by the Hindu extremists against Muslim citizens, Pakistan cricketers’ visit and cricketing activities in India would be nothing less than taking a big risk.
“We cannot allow cricketers to travel to India under the prevailing situation where Muslims are falling victim to atrocities at the hands of extremists in India. These extremists leave no stone unturned to preach hatred against Muslims. We have some serious security concerns and hence cannot allow our cricketers to travel to India,” a government official when contacted said.
It is worth mentioning here that India has also expressed concerns about its team’s visit to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, which the PCB plans to host in September 2023.
The matter is expected to get even worse if India continues to stick to its stance of not travelling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. In that case Pakistan would never allow its elite cricketers to take up the trip to a country where extremism is at its peak and even their central government is seen promoting such anti-Muslim measures.
