The never-ending saga surrounding the Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023 has taken a new turn, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) set to make another demand of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The PCB has said that it will ask for a “written guarantee” from BCCI chief Jay Shah about India’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Here are the key points from the news reports: Pakistan Cricket Board demands a written guarantee of India’s participation in ICC Champions Trophy 2025
- PCB chairman Najam Sethi will travel to Dubai on May 8 to meet representatives from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) and advocate for Pakistan’s position.
- Sethi wants written assurances from BCCI and ICC that India will travel to Pakistan to compete in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
- The persistent ambiguity surrounding India’s participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy may have an impact on the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.
- According to sources, Sethi is set to take a hard stance and has made it clear that Pakistan will not compete in the Asia Cup 2023 if there are no matches of the tournament in Pakistan.
- If the ACC does not approve the planned “Hybrid Model” for the forthcoming Asia Cup, in which Pakistan will play its games at home while India will play its matches in the UAE, Pakistan will not participate in the competition this year.
- Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata have been shortlisted by the BCCI as potential locations for the 2023 World Cup, which is set to start on October 5.
- The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has been shortlisted for the India-Pakistan World Cup tie, but it will only happen if Pakistan travels to India.
- Sethi’s visit to Dubai will also include starting to lobby to garner support for Pakistan’s “principled stance that it will not play its World Cup matches in India unless the BCCI and ICC give written guarantees that India will come to Pakistan to play in the 2025 Champions Trophy.”
Pakistan Cricket Board demands written guarantee of India’s participation in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy
The demand for a written guarantee by the PCB may further complicate the already tense relationship between India and Pakistan when it comes to cricket. It remains to be seen whether BCCI and ICC will agree to the demand, and what impact this may have on the upcoming ODI World Cup and future ICC tournaments.
