Pakistan Cricket Board don’t endorse Wasim Khan’s comments on Pakistan playing their World Cup games at a neutral venue
The last edition of the Asia Cup was held in the UAE.
SHARE
Apr 1, 2023 3:53 pm
Najam Sethi and Wasim Khan (Source: Twitter)
The Pakistan Cricket Board have come out to clear the air on the World Cup controversy. The PCB has emphisized that it did not press for neutral venue or hybrid model come the World Cup in India. The Board, however, said with a long sigh that they agreed to the hybrid model for the Asia Cup. The Asia Cup is scheduled for September.
The second venue for hosting India’s games has not been announced. It has been reported that Oman, UAE, Sri Lanka and England might host India’s games in the multilateral tournament. The idea of Pakistan having its games in a neutral venue for the World Cup was talked about by Wasim Khan, who was the Cricket Governing Body’s general manager. The Indian Cricket Board came down strongly on his remarks and the Cricket Governing Body also did not respond to his comments
PCB is still discussing with the ACC- Pakistan on the second host venue in the 2023 Asia Cup
“In this background, the PCB is disappointed that a leading English language newspaper has misquoted, misinterpreted and misrepresented Mr Sethi’s comments and gave the impression that PCB’s hybrid model was presented and discussed at the Cricket Governing Body, which is factually incorrect. At this stage, the PCB is only in discussions with the ACC over the hosting of the ACC Asia Cup and no discussions regarding the World Cup have taken place with the Cricket Governing Body.”
“I don’t know if it would take place here in a different country but a neutral venue is highly likely. I don’t think that Pakistan will play their matches in India. I think their matches will also be held at a neutral venue just like India’s Asia Cup matches,” Khan was quoted as saying earlier. Pakistan and India were earlier at loggerheads with the Asia Cup being hosted there. Now the two boards have brokered a solution.
“This is not to say that the hybrid model will not be advocated at the proper Cricket Governing Body forum at the right time.” The PCB statement left everyone stunned. The Asia Cup will be held in Pakistan. But India’s fixtures will be held at a neutral venue. There will be logistical issues involved while hosting the tournament.
