Pakistan's minister in-charge of sport Ehsaan Mazari has once again threatened to pull out of World Cup 2023 if Asia Cup is not held in Pakistan.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is bracing for another round of BCCI vs PCB face-off. The new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Zaka Ashraf will be attending the ICC Meeting in Durban where BCCI Secretary Jay Shah will also be present next week. Ashraf will hold discussions with Shah, who is also the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief, to decide the future of Pakistan’s participation in Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023.
Despite earlier assurances of sending Babar Azam 7 Co to India for the World Cup, the Pakistan govt is unhappy over Asia Cup. Pakistan was the original host of the tournament. But with BCCI refusing to send the team, the tournament will be played in a hybrid model. Pakistan will only get four games to host while Sri Lanka will host the rest including the big India vs Pakistan match.
With pressure on Zaka Ashraf from Pakistan’s sports ministry, he will meet Jay Shah to discuss the conditions of Pakistan’s visit to India for the World Cup 2023. Pakistan could refuse to visit India for WC if they cannot host the entire Asia Cup 2023.
“Pakistan is the host, it has the right to hold all the matches in Pakistan. That is what the cricket lovers want, I don’t want a hybrid model,” Pakistan’s minister in charge for sports, Ehsaan Mazari told Indian Express.
BCCI vs PCB Deadlockin ICC meeting
With poor diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring nations, India have refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan. However, the Indian bridge team and baseball team still visited Pakistan. While Pakistan’s chess team, hockey team and football teams have all visited India.
But when it comes to cricket, Pakistan have only visited India for the ICC event. As for India, they have refused to play any cricket apart from ACC and ICC events. As things stand, here are the scenarios:
If BCCI agrees to Pakistan hosting Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan will visit India for WC
If BCCI refuses: Pakistan can refuse to visit India for WC
Now, the aim for both parties will be to find a middle-ground so that both tournaments can be played as per schedule without any problems. Asia Cup schedule has been delayed once again because of this reason.
While all is not well, ICC remains confident that Pakistan will visit India for WC having signed the participation agreement.
“Pakistan have signed a participation agreement to compete and we expect them to be there and have had no indications to the contrary. All members have to abide by the rules and the laws of their country and we respect that. But we’re confident Pakistan will be in India for the Men’s Cricket World Cup,” ICC told Indian Express in a statement.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has formed a panel led by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto. The committee will recommend whether Pakistan should visit India for WC. Mazari is also a member of the panel and PCB comes under his ministry. Hence, the ICC Meeting holds significance at this point.
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