IND vs PAK: In a fresh turn of events, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has put forth its latest demands of not abiding by the announced schedule and asking for a hybrid model for the impending ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be hosted in India by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
As things unfolded in the last few days, Pakistan’s acting chairman Zaka Ashraf will reportedly bring up the issue that the PCB wants its World Cup 2023 games to be held at a neutral venue, outside India. Zaka is likely to raise the topic during ICC’s next meeting in Durban this week.
The high-profile meeting will also be attended by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah in Durban, South Africa.
Pakistan’s latest demand has been fueled by BCCI’s unmoved stance of not travelling to Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. Interestingly, Pakistan has been awarded hosting rights of the Asia Cup 2023, which will be held in the ODI format, however, the BCCI has expressed reluctance to send its players due to security concerns.
Following multiple rounds of meetings between the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials, which also included former PCB chief Najam Sethi, it was zeroed on that the 50-over tournament will go ahead in a hybrid model, whereby some matches will be held in Pakistan while some will be held at a neutral venue. The IND vs PAK game was to be held in a neutral venue.
The discussions among the ACC officials concluded with the decision to host four games in Pakistan and the other nine matches in Sri Lanka, which will be a neutral venue.
“Zaka Ashraf will bring up the issue of why can’t Pakistan’s matches in the World Cup be played at neutral venues when the Indian team can’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup,” the minister in charge of sports in Pakistan, Ehsaan Mazari was quoted by PTI as saying.
Meanwhile, there is still no clarity over Pakistan’s participation in the ICC World Cup 2023 in October-November. The PCB has informed BCCI and ICC that their participation in the quadrennial tournament in India is subject to their government’s approval.
A high-level committee has been put in place by the Pakistan government which will be headed by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister. The committee will dwell on the issue of sending its cricketers to India for the World Cup 2023 and India not travelling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023.
“I want our World Cup matches at neutral venues if India doesn’t want to send its team to Pakistan for Asia Cup. If they have security problems in Pakistan according to the Indian board, then we can also question the security situation in India,” said the Minister in charge of Sports in the Pakistan Government, who is also a part of the aforementioned high-level committee.
If Pakistan backs out of the ICC World Cup 2023, then no IND vs PAK clash would be on display for the fans, the contest which is originally slated to be held on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
For more details head to ICC’s official website.
