Imran Khan tweaks guest list for oath as Pak PM

Three of India's greatest cricketers Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Navjot Singh Sidhu are finally getting an invite to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony as prime minister.

Khan's party has flip-flopped on the invitations to the event, which was initially planned for August 11, over the last 10 days. On Friday, Khan's party came up with a fresh date, August 18.

Khan's party PTI also revived the plan to invite the three "cricket legends from India and Kaptaan's old friends", just a week after it had called off the invitation to foreign dignitaries and international cricket players.

"The ceremony will be completely national in its façade and essence," a statement by his party last week had said, underlining that Khan had decided to go for a simple and austere ceremony.

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu promptly accepted the yet-to-come invitation. The outspoken politician had declared that he would travel to Pakistan for the event, calling Imran Khan "a man of character", a "Greek God" and someone who is "trustworthy".

Kapil Dev had responded more cautiously, underlining that he hadn't received an invite but he will "surely go there" for the ceremony with the government's approval if the invite did come. Sunil Gavaskar hadn't commented.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, the party that Imran Khan founded in the mid-nineties after his career in cricket ended, has been in the fringes of Pakistan's politics for most of the 20 years of its existence. In last month's national election, the PTI, however, emerged as the largest party with 116 seats. It has stitched a coalition that crosses the 137 seats needed for majority.