The Pakistan government has cleared its cricket team’s tour of India for the upcoming World Cup in October-November. It will be their first visit here since the 2016 T20 World Cup.

Pakistan, however, will seek foolproof security assurances from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Indian government before the team’s departure.

Sources told The Telegraph that the government and Pakistan Cricket Board will reach out to India and the ICC for sending a security delegation to conduct a recce of the venues. Babar Azam’s team are scheduled to play at five venues — Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Calcutta and Bangalore.

Pakistan though have not yet decided on whether they will participate in the high-profile group league game against India in Ahmedabad. They have already cast aspersions on the venue’s security bandobast considering the volatile nature of the contest.

The match was supposed to take place on October 15 but is expected to be slotted a day earlier since it clashes with the first day of Navratri.

A media statement issued by Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs stated a lack of confidence in the security arrangements in India. “Pakistan, however, has deep concerns about the security of its Cricket Team. We are conveying these concerns to the International Cricket Council and the Indian authorities. We expect that full safety and security of Pakistan Cricket Team will be ensured during its visit to India,” it said.

The development comes a few days after the special committee — formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and headed by foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto — considered sending a delegation to review the security arrangements.

The committee, which was tasked to review Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup, also includes sports minister Ahsan Mazari, information minister Mariyum Aurangzeb, interior minister Rana Sanaullah, former diplomat Tariq Fatmi, chiefs of its national security agencies and foreign secretary among others.

“Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics. It has, therefore, decided to send its cricket team to India to participate in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023,” the statement said.

“Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations. Pakistan’s decision shows its constructive and responsible approach vis-à-vis India’s intransigent attitude, as the latter had refused to send its Cricket Team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.”

The revised World Cup schedule is expected this week. The Cricket Association of Bengal has also requested the BCCI to shift Pakistan’s game against England from November 12 to November 11 to avoid a clash with Kali Puja after the police raised security concerns.

Pakistan’s football team recently visited India and its hockey team is currently participating in the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai.