The hybrid model was agreed upon by the Pakistan Cricket Board led by Zaka Ashraf and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) under the leadership of Jay Shah for the Asia Cup 2023 however, there's a new twist that has unfolded. (More cricket news)
The Sports Minister of Pakistan, Ehsaan Mazari has suggested that the Babar Azam-led team should not travel to India for the World Cup if the Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) insisted on playing the Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue.
"My personal opinion, since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) comes under my ministry, is that if India demands to play their Asia Cup games at a neutral venue, we would also demand the same for our World Cup games in India," the Sports Minister Ehsaan Mazari was quoted in the Indian Express.
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Mazari's statement comes after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a committee over their team's participation in the World Cup in India later this year.
"The committee will be headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and I am among the 11 ministers who are part of it. We will discuss the issue and give our recommendations to the PM, who is also the patron-in-chief of PCB. The PM will take the final decision," Mazari said on the committee.
The minister also pinpointed that India's decision of not to play cricket in Pakistan is baffling as he attacked the BCCI.
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"India brings sports into politics. I don't understand why the Indian government doesn't want to send their cricket team here. Some time back a huge baseball contingent from India was in Islamabad to play. There was also the bridge team that had travelled to Pakistan. There were around 60-plus people, I was the chief guest of the event. They won here and left. Pakistan's football, hockey and chess teams also travel to India," he said.
Recently, The International Cricket Council (ICC) had sent a reminder to the Pakistan Cricket Board over the agreement the latter had signed of their team's participation at the Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
