To ensure their national team’s participation in the ODI World Cup in India later this year, PCB chairman Najam Sethi wants a “written guarantee” from BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Team India’s participation in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
The 2023 ODI World Cup will be held in India between October and November. According to reports the India-Pakistan Worldcup match would be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Arch-rivals India might play in Chennai, Bengaluru, or Kolkata.
However, with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), led by Jay Shah, still to approve the planned “hybrid model” for the 2019 Asia Cup in Pakistan, Sethi has been instructed to adopt a firm stance, according to a PTI report.
Following India’s unwillingness to come to Pakistan, the PCB proposed a hybrid plan in which India would play its Asia Cup matches in the UAE, while Pakistan would continue to host the other matches.
According to the news agency, Sethi is leaving Dubai on Monday, May 8, for talks with ACC and ICC officials.
During the talks, the PCB chairman will seek support for Pakistan’s position that it will play World Cup 2023 matches in India only provided the BCCI and ICC provide official assurances that India will visit Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
PCB’s Stance on Asia Cup 2023
According to the PTI report, PCB head Sethi recently met a number of government officials to seek opinions on whether Pakistan should participate in the Asia Cup if it is not organised in Lahore and Dubai, as they proposed in their hybrid model proposal.
According to a reliable source:
“Sethi is expected to make it very clear to the ACC members that either they accept Pakistan’s hybrid proposal or the PCB will not take part in the competition this year if it is moved from Pakistan
“Apparently, Sethi has now realized that it is time for some hard decisions and is not willing to accept any more delays from the ACC on finalization of venues and schedule for the Asia Cup. Sethi is clear now no Asia Cup matches in Pakistan, no Pakistan team in Asia Cup.”
India and Pakistan only meet during ICC and ACC events because to tense ties. The BCCI’s denial to play the Asia Cup in Pakistan sparked a heated debate between the two sides.