According to News, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the national team will only participate in the World Cup, which will be held in India later this year, if the government allows it.
The announcement comes in the midst of India’s inflexibility in its participation conditions for the Asia Cup 2023, which is ensuring that the event is held at a neutral venue.
Due to strained political relations, bilateral cricket between Pakistan and India is currently on hold, with the two countries only playing each other in multi-team events.
And now, despite the PCB’s proposal for a hybrid model for hosting the regional cricket event, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is refusing to come clean on the matter.
According to a report, PCB officials made it clear in a crucial meeting with ICC Chairman Greg Barclay and Chief Executive Geoff Allardice in Lahore that they would follow the government’s directives regarding World Cup participation if the Indian team did not visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup.
On Tuesday, top ICC officials were welcomed by Najam Sethi, Chairman of the PCB Management Committee, for a two-day visit to Pakistan.
The meeting did not result in an agreement on the PCB’s share of ICC revenue or issues concerning the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). As a result, negotiations between the PCB and ICC officials are expected to last another day before the ICC officials depart.
This is the first visit to Pakistan by ICC Chairman Barclay.
The PCB has been attempting to organise the event because hosting it in any other country would jeopardise Pakistan’s efforts to bring international cricket back to the cash-strapped country, but arch-rival India continues to undermine Pakistan’s efforts.
