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Najam Sethi toes Ramiz Raja’s line on Asia Cup, threatens to pull out of World Cup in India: PCB source | Cricket News
KARACHI: The Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB) Chairperson, Najam Sethi reported BCCI secretary Jay Shah that his country wants to host Asian Cup and if the tournament is moved, Pakistan will not send its team to the ODI Men’s World Cup in India.
Sethi’s comment is on the same line as his predecessor Ramiz Rajawho reiterated that Pakistan may boycott the World Cup of more than 50 people in India this year if the issue of the Asian Cup between the two cricket boards is not resolved.
Pakistan originally hosted the Asian Cup in September this year, but Shah, who Cricket Council Asia (ACC), said last October that the Indian team would not visit Pakistan for the continental tournament due to diplomatic tensions.
The ACC is expected to move the Asian Cup from Pakistan and decide on a replacement in March.
However, a source familiar with the PCB told PTI that during the ACC executive board meeting held in Bahrain on Saturday, Sethi made clear Pakistan’s stance on the Asian Cup to Shah that his country “will not waives the right to host both tournaments”. Asian Cup or Champions Cup 2025″.
“Sethi made his position very clear (to the Shah) and he went to Bahrain after meeting the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif Last Tuesday. Apparently, he discussed the matter with the prime minister before going to Bahrain,” the source said.
“Sethi has made it clear that the Asian Cup is a multi-team event and the Pakistani government is ready to guarantee the security of the Indian team. So there is no reason for BCCI not to send its team to Pakistan in September. this year,” the source added.
“Sethi also made it clear that if BCCI cannot get the government’s permission to host the Asian Cup, then Pakistan will not come to India for the (ODI) World Cup.”
The source added that Sethi told the meeting in Bahrain that if India did not go to Pakistan, then both nations could play their matches in two multi-team events at offshore venues.
The source refuted reports that other ACC member states, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, had said they would have to get government permission to host the Asian Cup in Pakistan.
“No such discussion took place. All discussions revolved around the India-Pakistan cricket match as well as the AFC Asian Cup and the World Cup.”
The source said that after Sethi’s tough stance, the ACC has decided to meet again in March and the matter will be resolved.
“Sethi told ACC members that before the next meeting, BCCI should talk to its government and clarify its position on whether it will send its team to the Asian Cup, so that Pakistan also could discuss with the ICC about hosting their World Cup. matches in India,” the source said.
The source added that Sethi asked ACC members why when Pakistan was chosen to host the Asian Cup and Champions Trophy 2025, why did the BCCI representative not voice his objection.
Sethi’s comment is on the same line as his predecessor Ramiz Rajawho reiterated that Pakistan may boycott the World Cup of more than 50 people in India this year if the issue of the Asian Cup between the two cricket boards is not resolved.
Pakistan originally hosted the Asian Cup in September this year, but Shah, who Cricket Council Asia (ACC), said last October that the Indian team would not visit Pakistan for the continental tournament due to diplomatic tensions.
The ACC is expected to move the Asian Cup from Pakistan and decide on a replacement in March.
However, a source familiar with the PCB told PTI that during the ACC executive board meeting held in Bahrain on Saturday, Sethi made clear Pakistan’s stance on the Asian Cup to Shah that his country “will not waives the right to host both tournaments”. Asian Cup or Champions Cup 2025″.
“Sethi made his position very clear (to the Shah) and he went to Bahrain after meeting the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif Last Tuesday. Apparently, he discussed the matter with the prime minister before going to Bahrain,” the source said.
“Sethi has made it clear that the Asian Cup is a multi-team event and the Pakistani government is ready to guarantee the security of the Indian team. So there is no reason for BCCI not to send its team to Pakistan in September. this year,” the source added.
“Sethi also made it clear that if BCCI cannot get the government’s permission to host the Asian Cup, then Pakistan will not come to India for the (ODI) World Cup.”
The source added that Sethi told the meeting in Bahrain that if India did not go to Pakistan, then both nations could play their matches in two multi-team events at offshore venues.
The source refuted reports that other ACC member states, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, had said they would have to get government permission to host the Asian Cup in Pakistan.
“No such discussion took place. All discussions revolved around the India-Pakistan cricket match as well as the AFC Asian Cup and the World Cup.”
The source said that after Sethi’s tough stance, the ACC has decided to meet again in March and the matter will be resolved.
“Sethi told ACC members that before the next meeting, BCCI should talk to its government and clarify its position on whether it will send its team to the Asian Cup, so that Pakistan also could discuss with the ICC about hosting their World Cup. matches in India,” the source said.
The source added that Sethi asked ACC members why when Pakistan was chosen to host the Asian Cup and Champions Trophy 2025, why did the BCCI representative not voice his objection.
