Pakistan Board Blocks Over-50s Cricket Team From Traveling to India for World Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board has blocked its over-50s team from traveling to India for the upcoming International Masters Cricket World Cup in January. Pakistan won the previous tournament hosted in Sri Lanka last year, but the board told the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association that travel across the border is not allowed this time. Fawad Ijaz, who leads the PVCA, stated on Wednesday that event organisers and the host country promised full visas and top-level security. The association then sought clearance from the cricket board alongside the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior. According to Ijaz, Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as the country's interior minister and also leads the cricket board, delivered the final decision barring the team from playing in India.

Context

Sports teams from both nations frequently face travel restrictions due to long-standing political tensions between the two neighboring countries. Similar cross-border issues recently affected hockey, when another national sports body declined a trip to India and a replacement team stepped in instead.