Pakistan Demands Neutral Venues for 2023 Cricket World Cup Matches

10 July 2023, 07:58 PM IST Photo: AFP

Karachi: Pakistan has demanded that its matches in the 2023 Cricket World Cup hosted by India be held at a neutral venue. Sports Minister Ehsan Masari has stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board will raise this issue in the ICC meeting to be held in Durban, South Africa.

After India refused to participate in the Asia Cup cricket tournament hosted by Pakistan, Pakistan also came out with a similar position. The BCCI has informed the Asian Cricket Council that it will not participate in the tournament in Pakistan and will only play at neutral venues. Following this, apart from Pakistan, Sri Lanka was also announced as the venue for the Asia Cup. Currently four matches are being played in Pakistan and nine matches are being played in Sri Lanka. This angered Pakistan.

The Sports Minister stated that Zaka Ashraf, Acting Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, will raise this matter before the ICC. ‘If India’s Asia Cup matches can be played at neutral venues, why not Pakistan’s World Cup matches at neutral venues? Zaka Ashraf will report this in front of the ICC’ – Ehsan Mazari clarified.

The sports minister added that a special committee has been formed to decide whether Pakistan should play in India or not. The committee was formed by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The committee is headed by External Affairs Minister Bilawal Bhutto. Ehsan Masali also said that Pakistan can play in the World Cup only after getting the approval of this committee.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has already informed the ICC and BCCI that they will participate in the World Cup only if they get permission from the government. The World Cup starts on October 5. The Asia Cup will be held from August 31 to September 17.

2023-07-10 14:28:45

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