Pakistan can host a T20 World Cup or Champions Trophy in the next five years, says Ehsan Mani

He said ICC should make India pay for constant refusal to play against Pakistan.

Pakistan aims to host ICC events in next five years time | Getty Images

As Pakistan’s limited-overs series against Sri Lanka is about to end this week without any danger and hindrance on the home soil, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) President Ehsan Mani has hoped that the country might host a T20 World Cup or the Champions Trophy within five-years.

The PCB successfully hosted the Islanders in the three-match One Day International (ODI) series – which the hosts won 2-0 in Lahore having previously hosted West Indies, Zimbabwe, World XI, and Sri Lanka for a couple of matches while Pakistan Super League (PSL) as well.

However, the ongoing Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan has been considered as a complete return of international cricket to the country with T20I series being played in Karachi.

While insisting that Pakistan will be fully organized and well-managed within five years to host a major ICC tournament in the country, the PCB chief expressed his disappointment at the world’s sports body to give the priority to India, Australia or England to host the ICC tournaments.

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As per reports in Bdcrictime, Mani said: “It’s extremely unfortunate that the ICC has dispensed every single major event to only three nations – India, Australia and England. We didn’t challenge it when they were doing it because of voracity and lack of knowledge about how things work in international cricket.”

He continued, “Yet, there’s no point in discussing this further. We need to begin the basis now. We don’t have the framework today to have the World Cup alone. We can have a T20 World Cup or the Champions Trophy. I’m sure that in five years’ time we can have a T20 World Cup or the Champions Trophy.”

On the relationship with India and whether India would agree to play against Pakistan as a part of the World Test Championship, the PCB boss said: “I don’t have a clue. But it’s India’s concern.”

Mani signed off by saying, “They would not like to play against us in the World Cup yet had to play. I think they will do likewise in the World Test Championship else they should forfeit. I accept that the international cricket community will make India pay if it keeps on taking choices under political pressure and interference.”

(With Bdcrictime Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 07 Oct, 2019

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