Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi, on Friday, June 16, gave a new twist to Pakistan team’s participation in the ODI World Cup 2023 which is to be played in India, saying the Men in Green will only travel for the ICC event if their government approves.
This has put the ICC in a bind as the schedule for the mega event is yet to be finalized. After all parties, including the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Jay Shah, agreed to organize the 2018 Asia Cup using the hybrid model as suggested by the PCB chief, Sethi made his remarks.
"As far as India and Pakistan go, neither the PCB nor the BCCI can take decisions. The respective governments only can take decisions. It's our government who has to decide, just like when it comes to India, it's their government that decides when they go to play. There is no point asking us if we will play in Ahmedabad.
When the time comes, first it will be decided whether we are going or not, then the government decides where we will go. Our decision will rest on these two important conditions," Sethi said during a press conference.
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The hybrid model was proposed as the Indian cricket board (BCCI) had made it clear that it won't send its team to Pakistan due to the longstanding geopolitical tensions between the two countries.
With the approval of the Asia Cup schedule, Pakistan would also travel to India for the ODI World Cup in October-November. The arch-rivals are scheduled to meet on October 15 at the world's largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
It is understood that when ICC CEO Geoff Allardice and chairman Greg Barclay visited Karachi last month to meet with Sethi, it was determined that Pakistan will not impose any requirements for competing in the World Cup as long as four Asia Cup games are held in the country because they hold the hosting rights.
Sethi further said, "We have told the ICC also that if our government looks into the security considerations and permits us, we will come to play in India. If they don't give, how can we come and play in India?
Even if the government permits us, we have to look at the venues and decide where to play. That comes later. Firstly, the government has to give us the nod. It has to tell us whether we can go or not.”
(PTI inputs)
