Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani on Saturday (February 20) said the PCB will push for the relocation of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) if India doesn’t provide a written assurance for the asked visas for the mega ICC event later this year.
He also said they told International Cricket Council (ICC) about their demands as Pakistan wants a written assurance from India for the visas for not only the national team and coaches but also for the fans, officials, and journalists as well for the 2021 T20 World Cup in October-November.
Mani said during an interaction with reporters at the PCB headquarters in Lahore on Friday, “There is a need to change the 'Big Three' mindset. We are not seeking written assurance for the visas of the national team only, but for the fans, officials and journalists as well.”
He further added, “We have told the ICC that India should give written assurances by the end of March so that we know where we stand or we will push for the relocation of the World Cup from India to UAE.”
The PCB chief also said they wanted written assurances from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about the security arrangements for the entire Pakistan contingent, given the “existing relationship” between India and Pakistan.
With no bilateral cricketing ties between the two countries over the years, Mani said PCB had made its intentions clear to the world that “PCB plans to run our cricket without India.”
He signed off by revealing that the PCB had not consulted the ICC before taking a decision to have full-fledged domestic and international cricket activities for the current season in Pakistan.
(With PTI Inputs)
