The chairman and CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC) are in Lahore to seek assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that they will not push for the implementation of a hybrid model for their matches in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in India later this year. Insiders told PTI that ICC chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice have come to Lahore specifically to get assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board about the national team’s participation in the World Cup in October-November.
The news comes after PCB chief Najam Sethi stated that the team will not travel to India for the World Cup if the Rohit Sharma-led side does not visit Pakistan for the preceding Asia Cup.
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“The ICC and World Cup hosts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are concerned with the hybrid model being pushed by Najam Sethi who heads the cricket management committee of the PCB. Although the hybrid model has been suggested by Sethi for the Asia Cup which precedes the ICC event, the concern remains that once accepted for the regional event the PCB might also then ask the ICC to implement it for the World Cup when it comes to Pakistan playing in India,” the source explained.
Sethi has already stated that if the Pakistan government does not provide clearance or has security concerns about sending the team to India, the PCB may request that the matches be held at a neutral venue. “Naturally, neither the ICC nor the BCCI want such a situation because Pakistan’s unequivocal participation in matches in India would ensure the success of both the Indo-Pakistan series and the tournament itself,” the source added.
Another source stated that this was the main reason why BCCI secretary Jay Shah was still hesitant to accept the hybrid model for the Asia Cup and support having three or four matches in Pakistan and the remaining games in the UAE or Sri Lanka. The Asia Cup is being hosted by Pakistan, and Sethi has stated repeatedly that if the tournament is moved to a neutral country other than Pakistan, Pakistan will not participate.