ODI World Cup 2023 | ICC chairman and CEO seeks assurance from Pakistan board to send team to India

Karachi: The Chairman and CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC) are currently in Lahore to assure that the Pakistan Cricket Board will host the ODI World Cup 2023 in India this year. ) will not insist on implementing the hybrid model for its matches. Sources confirmed to PTI that ICC President Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice have arrived in Lahore specifically to seek assurances to ensure Pakistan’s participation in the ODI World Cup to be held in October-November. PCB chief Najam Sethi has made it clear that if the Indian team does not tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup, then their team will also not travel to India for the World Cup. Only after this the top officials of ICC have come on Pakistan tour. Also read Sources said, “The ICC and the World Cup host Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) are concerned about the hybrid model of Najam Sethi.” “Though Sethi has suggested a hybrid model for the Asia Cup, which is to be held before the World Cup, officials are concerned that if this model is accepted for the regional competition, the PCB will be at risk of losing money to Pakistan and India,” he said. On the question of playing in I can ask ICC to implement this model in World Cup also. Sethi has already indicated that if the Pakistan government does not allow the team to be sent to India due to security reasons, then the PCB will ask the ICC to get Pakistan’s matches at neutral venues. “It is natural that the ICC and the BCCI do not want such a situation as it will affect the India-Pakistan match and even the success of the tournament,” sources said. Another source said that this is the reason why BCCI secretary Jay Shah is not accepting the hybrid model for the Asia Cup under which three or four matches will be held in Pakistan and the rest in UAE or Sri Lanka. Pakistan is the host of the Asia Cup and Sethi has been repeatedly reiterating that his team will not participate in the competition if the tournament is held at a neutral venue instead of Pakistan. The sources also indicated that if Pakistan does not host some matches of the Asia Cup, it will have an adverse effect on the World Cup as well. “The ICC office bearers are trying to act as a bridge between PCB and BCCI and resolve the pending issues related to Asia Cup and World Cup,” he added. (agency)