• ICC World Cup 2023: PCB lodges another formal complaint against India

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    ICC World Cup 2023: PCB  lodges another formal complaint against India
    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged multiple complaints with the International Cricket Council (ICC)...

    Digital Desk: Following the India-Pakistan match at the ICC World Cup 2023, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged various grievances with the International Cricket Council (ICC). The complaints cover claimed "inappropriate behaviour" from the audience as well as numerous visa difficulties involving Pakistani media and fans.

    On October 14, almost 100,000 people watched India beat Pakistan by 7 wickets at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. The Indian squad improved their World Cup record against Pakistan to 8-0. The mood, on the other hand, was less than welcoming.

    According to the Associated Press, videos of Pakistani cricketers being subjected to religious slurs went viral on social media sites. The PCB wasted no time, filing a formal complaint with the ICC right away.

    Furthermore, the PCB has expressed dissatisfaction with the delays in visa allocations for Pakistani journalists intending to cover the World Cup. Only a few Pakistani journalists reached Ahmedabad, resulting in limited coverage of the competition in Pakistan.

    "The PCB is extremely disappointed to see that journalists and fans from Pakistan are still facing uncertainty about obtaining an Indian visa to cover Pakistan games in the ICC World Cup 2023," the board said in an earlier statement, according to ESPNcricinfo.

    This prompted another protest from the PCB, this time about the lack of a clear visa procedure for Pakistani supporters who want to watch the games in India.

    "The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged another formal protest with the ICC over delays in visas for Pakistani journalists and the absence of a visa policy for Pakistan fans for the ongoing World Cup 2023," the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Twitter. 

    "The PCB has also filed a complaint regarding inappropriate conduct targeted at the Pakistan squad during the India vs Pakistan match held on 14 October 2023," it added.

    The World Cup's tension extends beyond the playing field. High-ranking officials from the PCB are actively pursuing diplomatic channels to address the issues. 

    According to ANI, PCB president Zaka Ashraf met with Pakistan's foreign secretary and asked him to coordinate with India's Home Ministry on these issues.