Pakistan has confirmed that it will participate in the Cricket World Cup, due to be held in India later this year.

Because of political tensions between the two countries, matches between the rivals have only been played at neutral venues since 2013.

A statement from the Pakistan foreign ministry said: ‘Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations.’

There have been long-standing tensions between Pakistan and India since the two countries were partitioned in the late 1940s, when colonialism ended in the region. The two have also fought a number of wars and there is still a dispute over the Kashmir region.

The Cricket World Cup starts on 5 October when New Zealand plays England. Pakistan’s first game is the following day, against the Netherlands. Pakistan and India are due to clash on 15 October at Ahmedabad.

[Image: soomrom from Pixabay]


author