India was responsible for providing foolproof security to Pakistan, the foreign office said on Thursday as the national cricket team was all set to participate in the 50-over World Cup in October in the neighbouring country.

“I won’t reply to Indian statements on Pakistan cricket team’s security,” FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a press briefing on Thursday. “India is responsible for providing foolproof security to the Pakistan team.”

Last week, Pakistan decided to send the national cricket team to India for participation in the cricket World Cup 2023. But the country expected that the national team would be provided full security.

The foreign office stressed that the nuclear-armed neighbour was also responsible for ensuring that the Green Shirts were provided with an environment free of fear and harassment. “An environment where spectators do not harass Pakistani players.

The world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad will host the hotly anticipated match, originally set for October 15 at the same venue.

Also, read this

World Cup: Tickets for Pakistan-India match to go on sale on Sept 3

The World Cup promo is a little too Indian

Pakistan ready to play bilateral Test series against India

Fixtures for the 50-over World Cup were originally published in June after weeks of delays arising from Pakistan’s reluctance to travel to India.

India and Pakistan are bitter adversaries and only play cricket against each other in international tournaments due to longstanding political tensions.

Any match between the South Asian neighbours, therefore, becomes one of the most-watched events on the global sporting calendar, and any victory is used to promote nationalism at home.

When they do play, cricket fans around the world are glued to their TV screens in a multi-billion-dollar bonanza for broadcasters.

The tickets for the high-voltage encounter would go on sale on September 3.

“I am thinking that we are going to play the World Cup – not just against India. We are not focusing on one team. There are nine other teams, so only if we beat them will we reach the final,” Pakistan team skipper Babar Azam said at a press conference on July 6.