Amid the tussle between the cricket boards of India and Pakistan over the hosting of Asia Cup 2023, PCB chairman Najam Sethi has said that they will seek a “written guarantee” from BCCI secretary Jay Shah about Team India’s participation in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan before committing to send their national team to India for the ODI World Cup later this year.
The 2023 World Cup will be held in October-November and BCCI have reportedly shortlisted Ahmedabad (for India game), Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata as possible venues for the Pakistan side.
According to a PTI report, Sethi has been advised to play the hardball as ACC under chairmanship of Jay Shah hasn’t confirmed the proposed ‘Hybrid Model’ for the upcoming Asia Cup yet.
As per a reliable source, Sethi is due to depart for Dubai on May 8 where he will hold meetings with ACC and ICC officials.
The source in PCB said that during his Dubai visit, Sethi is likely to start lobbying to gather support for Pakistan’s “principled stance that it will not play its World Cup matches in India unless the BCCI and ICC give written guarantees India will come to Pakistan to play in the 2025 Champions Trophy.”
“Sethi has recently met with some government officials and also obtained advice from them on whether Pakistan should play in the Asia Cup if it is not held in Lahore and Dubai as proposed by the PCB under its hybrid model plan to the ACC,” the source quoted as saying by PTI.
“Sethi is expected to make it very clear to the ACC members that either they accept Pakistan’s hybrid proposal or the PCB will not take part in the competition this year if it is moved from Pakistan,” he added.
The PCB chairman is not willing to accept more delays on the scheduling of Asia Cup.
“Apparently, Sethi has now realized that it is time for some hard decisions and is not willing to accept any more delays from the ACC on finalization of venues and schedule for the Asia Cup. Sethi is clear now no Asia Cup matches in Pakistan, no Pakistan team in Asia Cup,” the source claimed.
(With PTI Inputs)
