Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again made headlines with his remarks on the ongoing dispute between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the Asia Cup and the World Cup.
Imran Khan believes that the PCB should have hosted the Asia Cup in Pakistan without India’s participation, further fueling the already tense situation. He also expressed his opinion that Pakistan should refuse to tour India for the One Day International (ODI) World Cup.
The conflict between the BCCI and the PCB arose when the Indian cricket board declined to send Team India to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. After extensive discussions, the two boards finally reached a compromise. They agreed on a hybrid model for the Asia Cup 2023, with the first four matches being held in Pakistan and the remaining matches taking place in Sri Lanka, including those involving India.
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The BCCI’s acceptance of the hybrid model also raised the possibility of the Pakistan team visiting India for the ODI World Cup. Initially, there were concerns about Pakistan’s visit to India due to the BCCI’s refusal to send Team India to Pakistan.
Imran Khan stated, “Even without India, I would have organized the entire Asia Cup in Pakistan. Why should Pakistan visit India for the World Cup if India isn’t coming to Pakistan? If India is recognized as a powerhouse, Pakistan, a well-known and beloved cricket team, deserves equal recognition.”
In other news, the International Cricket Council (ICC) recently unveiled the schedule for the ODI World Cup. India will kick off their campaign against Australia on October 8 and will face Afghanistan on October 11. The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.