PCB chief introduced new venue option regarding Asia Cup 2023, know

Pakistan Cricket Board President Najam Sethi is repeatedly seen threatening the Board of Control for Cricket in India regarding the Asia Cup being held in Pakistan. The issue regarding the venue of the Asia Cup is continuously heating up. Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board President Najam Sethi has given a new threat.

 

threat of not playing world cup

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Najam Sethi once again said that the Indian team will have to come to Pakistan to play the Asia Cup. Sethi said on Friday that the Pakistani team would go to India to play the ODI World Cup only when the Indian team crossed the border to play the upcoming Asia Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) recently rejected the ‘hybrid model’. Sethi believes that until India and Pakistan start playing in each other’s country, this seems to be the only option.

 

In an exclusive interview with Sethi, he was asked about the status of the Asia Cup and ACC’s reaction to your proposed hybrid model. He said that in the current situation, we have made it clear that there should be four matches in Pakistan. However other matches can be played at any other neutral venue. The decision on this matter can now be taken by the Asian Cricket Council, according to which it can either agree and make the schedule according to Najam Sethi’s proposal or say that all the matches will be played at a neutral venue. Everything will be solved if you take the first option. Najam Sethi has directly said that we will not play the Asia Cup if the second option is chosen. We are waiting for the reply of Jai Shah and others.

 

The PCB chairman was asked whether there was any point in Pakistan continuing in the ACC if it did not play the Asia Cup. Responding to this, he said that ACC has to think about it. The next president of ACC will be from PCB. Now it’s our turn. We want to remain in ACC or rather we can say that ACC cannot happen without Pakistan. ACC gets maximum revenue from India and Pakistan only. If Pakistan does not play in the Asia Cup, then the broadcaster Star Network may face problems. That’s why both India and Pakistan are important for Asia Cup and ACC. That is why I proposed the hybrid model. We even said that let only four matches be held in Pakistan and the remaining matches should be played at a neutral venue. We have solved not only one issue but also the World Cup and Champions Trophy. There will be problem even if we don’t go to play India and there will be problem if Indian team doesn’t come to play Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi was asked that the Indian team is not going to Pakistan due to political tension but after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, do you think other teams will come there in the current security situation. In response to this, he said that Imran Khan’s protest has been going on for six months. The New Zealand national team played in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi where the demonstrations were ongoing. This is not an issue. These teams were given VVIP security. Even if there is a problem in Islamabad, it can be played in Pindi, Multan, Lahore and Karachi. Asia Cup will be in September and do you think Pakistan will be burning at that time and we will not be able to play cricket. If the circumstances are like this, then I myself would say that the match should be held at a neutral venue. We also do not want our honorable guest to face riots after coming to Pakistan. We care about them.

 

He was asked whether Pakistan would play the World Cup in India on a hybrid model if the ACC agreed to a four-match hybrid model. Najam Sethi said that the issue at the moment is the Asia Cup. I want the hybrid model to be adopted and successful. If the Indian team does not come to play the Champions Trophy then we will have a problem. Even if Pakistan does not play in India, there will be problem. The real problem is the refusal of the Indian team to come to Pakistan. Either we don’t play each other at all or find a middle ground. India and Pakistan do not play each other in each other’s country in all tournaments. No big deal. Despite this, the game can happen.