Pakistan PM Forms Committee To Decide On Team's Participation In World Cup: Report

08.07.2023 - 08:47 sports.ndtv.com

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has formed a high-level committee, headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, to decide on the national cricket team's participation in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

The committee will explore and discuss all aspects of Pakistan and India relations, the government's policy of keeping sports and policy apart, and the situation in India for the players, officials, fans, and media before submitting its recommendations to Sharif.

The Prime Minister is also the patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Both the International Cricket Council and host BCCI have already announced the World Cup schedule and expect Pakistan to travel to India for the 50-over showpiece beginning October 5.

The PCB, however, has conveyed to them that the national team's participation in the premier event is subject to government clearance due to the tense relations between the two countries.

cricket India Cricket Team Pakistan Cricket Team World Cup 2023 cup on Babar Azam India Pakistan

Opener Abdullah Shafique's maiden double century and an unbeaten 132 by Agha Salman put Pakistan in the box seat Wednesday on day three of the second Test against Sri Lanka. The tourists reached 563-5 at stumps, leading Sri Lanka by 397 runs in their first innings at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club. Salman and concussion substitute Mohammad Rizwan, on 37, were batting in an unbeaten stand of 95 after Shafique's departure on 201. Salman played attacking cricket to reinforce Pakistan's new aggressive style in this series and reached his second Test ton with a boundary.

Shafique and Salman pummel Sri Lanka, Pakistan eye series sweep

COLOMBO : Opener Abdullah Shafique struck his maiden double hundred and Agha Salman smashed a rapid 132 not out as Pakistan looked poised for a 2-0 series sweep after thoroughly dominating the second test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

Watch: Pakistan Star Hassan Ali Makes Most Of Rain Delay During Test Against Sri Lanka. Internet Amused

Rain played spoilsport on Day 2 of the second Test between Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday. Abdullah Shafique and skipper Babar Azam steered Pakistan to a 12-run lead but rain halted their charge early. The tourists were 178-2 after resuming under gloomy skies on 145-2 with Abdullah Shafique, on 87, and skipper Babar Azam, on 28, batting in a stand of 57.

Rain Spoils Day Two After Pakistan Take Lead Against Sri Lanka

Abdullah Shafique and skipper Babar Azam steered Pakistan to a 12-run lead but rain halted their charge early on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. The tourists were 178-2 after resuming under gloomy skies on 145-2 with Abdullah Shafique, on 87, and skipper Babar Azam, on 28, batting in a stand of 57. Only 43 minutes of play were possible before the downpour began and forced officials to call lunch, tea and finally stumps with the ground fully covered. More rain is predicted on day three and Pakistan, who lead the two-match series 1-0, will depend on an aggressive approach to clinch the series.

After 'BazBall' And 'DravBall', Pakistan Legend Introduces 'PakBall'

The word “Bazball” has become a massive part of cricket vocabulary in the recent past with the aggressive brand of Test batting finding fans all around the world. The brand of cricket, which is named after England cricket team head coach Brendon McCullum, has been dominating headlines due to the ongoing Ashes series but it looks like there is a new batting style which can be making his debut slowly on the international stage. India's aggressive show against West Indies also saw gave birth to the name 'DravBall', in reference to Rahul Dravid's team. Pakistan have been playing their own aggressive brand of cricket against Sri Lanka and former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has now dubbed it “PakBall”. During the second Test match, Pakistan scored 145 runs in just 28.3 overs with the run rate going up to above 5 per over.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 2nd Test Day 2, Live Score Updates: Pakistan Look To Maintain Dominance Over Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2nd Test, Day2, Live Updates:Pakistan will resume the Day 2 of the ongoing second Test against Sri Lanka from 145/2 at Colombo. Currently,Abdullah Shafique (74*) and Babar Azam (8*) are standing unbeaten at the crease with the visitors trailing by 21 runs. Earlier in the day, Abrar Ahmed takes a four-wicket haul as Pakistan bundled out Sri Lanka for 166 on Day 1 of the second Test. Apart from Abrar, Naseem Shah took three wickets while Shaheen Afridi scalped one. For Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya de Silva scored 57 runs. (Live Scorecard)