Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi. File
| Photo Credit: AP
The PCB has proposed that India can play their Asia Cup matches at a neutral venue whereas Pakistan and different competing groups play within the host nation, its chief Najam Sethi revealed on Friday.
Sethi stated they’ve despatched a proposal to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had refused to journey to Pakistan due to political stress between the 2 nations and demanded the shifting of the continental match to a neutral venue.
“We have decided on this hybrid model that Pakistan plays its Asia Cup matches at home and India their matches at a neutral venue and that is our proposal to the Asian Cricket Council,” stated Sethi, who took over because the PCB chairman from former cricketer Ramiz Raja, throughout a press convention.
The Asia Cup, involving six groups, will probably be performed from September 2 to 17, although the precise schedule of matches is but to be introduced due to uncertainty over the venue.
Besides Pakistan and India, the opposite competing international locations are Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and one crew which is able to emerge from the ACC qualifiers.
The qualifying match is underway in Nepal.
Sethi hoped that the go to of his nation’s international minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari subsequent month to the Indian coastal metropolis of Goa for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council assembly will assist thaw relations between the 2 nations.
“We have been told that, maybe, the ice will keep on melting. If this happens when the Champions Trophy is held in Pakistan in 2025, India would consider playing in Pakistan. We have been advised to play the Asia Cup at a neutral venue and also go to India for the World Cup,” stated Sethi however didn’t say precisely who has suggested them.
Sethi indicated the general public temper in his nation is that Pakistan ought to play cricket with India on degree phrases.
“Our government has imposed no restrictions about playing against India. But I can say right now that public mood is, we are not needy and we can stand on our own feet financially and we want to play cricket with India honourably. We are also negotiating with the ACC,” Sethi stated.
The PCB chairman, nonetheless, didn’t specify who within the authorities was advising the PCB on the problem.
Sethi stated that if Pakistan decides to shift all India matches within the Asia Cup to a neutral venue, the neighbours must also apply the identical hybrid experiment through the 50-over World Cup in October-November this yr.
India are internet hosting the World Cup and there may be speak throughout the border that Pakistan’s matches be moved to neutral venues.
“We feel this hybrid experiment can also be applied when it is time for the World Cup,” Sethi stated.
“Our stance is that everything should be on a reciprocal basis. In the old times, yes there were security issues in Pakistan. But now there are no issues, so what is India’s excuse for not playing in Pakistan,” he added.
The ACC, led by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, is but to reply to the PCB concerning the proposed hybrid mannequin. Reports say that the opposite ACC members additionally need the Asia Cup to be held at a neutral venue to save value regardless that Pakistan will stay the match host.
