CARACHI: Pakistani cricket Board Chairman Najam Sethi to seek ‘written guarantee’ from BCCI supremo Jay Shah on the participation of the Indian team in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan before committing to their national team to play their ODI World Cup matches in India later this year.
The 2023 World Cup will be played from October 5 and BCCI has focused on Ahmedabad (for the Indian match), Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata as possible venues for Babar Azam’s side.
However, the ACC under the chairmanship of Jay Shah did not confirm the “hybrid model” proposed for the upcoming Asian Cup, where India played their matches in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan played their matches in their home country. Originally, Sethi was apparently advised to play hardball.
According to a reliable source, Sethi is set to leave for Dubai on May 8 where he will hold meetings with officials from the ACC and the International Cricket Council.
The source in pcb said that during his visit to Dubai, Sethi is also expected to start lobbying for support for Pakistan’s “principled position that they will not play their World Cup matches in India unless the BCCI and the ICC does not give written guarantees that India will come to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy 2025.”
“Sethi recently met with government officials and also got advice from them on whether Pakistan should participate in the Asian Cup if it is not held in Lahore and Dubai as proposed by the PCB as part of its hybrid model plan at ACC,” the source said. said.
He added that Sethi had tacit approval from the government to convey a firm and direct position to ACC members regarding the hosting of the Asian Cup in September.
“Sethi should make it very clear to ACC members that they accept Pakistan’s hybrid proposal or that PCB will not compete this year if moved from Pakistan.”
The PC president is unwilling to accept any more delays in the Asian Cup schedule.
“Apparently Sethi has now realized that it is time to make some tough decisions and is not willing to accept any further delays from the ACC on finalizing the venues and schedule for the Asian Cup. .”
“Sethi is clear now that there are no more Asian Cup matches in Pakistan, no Pakistani team in the Asian Cup,” the source claimed.
The 2023 World Cup will be played from October 5 and BCCI has focused on Ahmedabad (for the Indian match), Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata as possible venues for Babar Azam’s side.
However, the ACC under the chairmanship of Jay Shah did not confirm the “hybrid model” proposed for the upcoming Asian Cup, where India played their matches in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan played their matches in their home country. Originally, Sethi was apparently advised to play hardball.
According to a reliable source, Sethi is set to leave for Dubai on May 8 where he will hold meetings with officials from the ACC and the International Cricket Council.
The source in pcb said that during his visit to Dubai, Sethi is also expected to start lobbying for support for Pakistan’s “principled position that they will not play their World Cup matches in India unless the BCCI and the ICC does not give written guarantees that India will come to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy 2025.”
“Sethi recently met with government officials and also got advice from them on whether Pakistan should participate in the Asian Cup if it is not held in Lahore and Dubai as proposed by the PCB as part of its hybrid model plan at ACC,” the source said. said.
He added that Sethi had tacit approval from the government to convey a firm and direct position to ACC members regarding the hosting of the Asian Cup in September.
“Sethi should make it very clear to ACC members that they accept Pakistan’s hybrid proposal or that PCB will not compete this year if moved from Pakistan.”
The PC president is unwilling to accept any more delays in the Asian Cup schedule.
“Apparently Sethi has now realized that it is time to make some tough decisions and is not willing to accept any further delays from the ACC on finalizing the venues and schedule for the Asian Cup. .”
“Sethi is clear now that there are no more Asian Cup matches in Pakistan, no Pakistani team in the Asian Cup,” the source claimed.
