IND vs PAK: Pakistan refuse to play ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Ahmedabad: In another retaliation push against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refused to play its scheduled ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 fixtures at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The PCB has conveyed the same to ICC counterparts Greg Barclay.
Pakistan has shown its apprehension about playing India vs Pakistan contest in Ahmedabad, unless it is a knockout game. Furthermore, as reported, PCB chief Najam Sethi wants its group-stage games to be held in Bengaluru, Kolkata or Chennai.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strictly intimated the same to ICC chairman Greg Barclay, who is on a visit to Pakistan to seek the country’s assurance to not demand neutral venues during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held in India in October-November.
Notably, Pakistan’s demand to play their World Cup 2023 matches in a neutral venue is fueled by India’s stance of not playing the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan. BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, has already made a point that Men in Blue will only feature in Asia Cup 2023 if the tournament is shifted to a neutral venue.
“Sethi has conveyed to Greg Barclay and Allardice that Pakistan doesn’t want its matches to be scheduled in Ahmedabad unless it is a knock-out game like the final,” said the PCB source.
News agency PTI had reported that PCB has instructed to play its World Cup 2023 matches on their choice of venues brushing aside the already scheduled India vs Pakistan fixture at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
“He requested ICC to schedule their games in Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata if the national team gets clearance from the Pakistan government to travel to India for the global event scheduled in October and November,” the source was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.
Pakistan reject ICC’s new revenue sharing model
Meanwhile, Najam Sethi is also not pleased with the ICC’s new proposed revenue-sharing model. The PCB boss insisted that it would not accept the model unless Pakistan’s revenue increases in the next five-year cycle.
Sethi indicated that it was unfair for the country’s board to get less revenue as compared to that of Australia and England. As per the new model, England Cricket Board is set to earn $41.33 million which is roughly 6.89 per cent of ICC earnings while Cricket Australia (CA) would take home $37.53 million which makes 6.25 per cent of ICC’s earnings.
However, PCB’s revenue share in the new proposed model remains at $34.51 million, which is 5.75 per cent of ICC’s total earnings.
“Sethi pointed out that it was unfair that Pakistan should get a lesser share of the ICC revenues in the new cycle compared to Australia and England,” the source said.
“Sethi argued that Australia and England regularly get to play bilateral series with India and their players also take part in the Indian Premier League which means extra revenues for the two boards from the IPL management,” he added.
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