India vs Pakistan: Regarding participation in the World Cup 2023, continuous statements are being made by Pakistan. On one hand, the PCB talks about boycotting India’s tour regarding its venues and hosting the Asia Cup 2023. On the other hand, now the minister in charge of sports in Pakistan. Ehsan Mazari has said that if India refrains from traveling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, then his country will not come to play in the 2023 World Cup in India.
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India demands to play its Asia Cup matches at a neutral venue, so will we
Speaking to The Indian Express, Mazari said, “It is my personal opinion because the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) comes under my ministry. So if India demands to play their Asia Cup matches at a neutral venue, we will also demand the same for our World Cup matches in India.”
Mazari- We will give our recommendations to the Prime Minister, who is also the patron-in-chief of the PCB
The statement came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif set up a high-profile committee to look into the issue of the country’s participation in the October-November World Cup to be hosted by India. Sharing the mandate of the committee, Mazari said, “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 Prime Minister, who is also the patron-in-chief of the PCB. The PM will take the final decision.”
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The committee headed by Bhutto is expected to share its report with the Prime Minister any time next week.
Mazari said the committee headed by Bhutto is likely to share its report with the prime minister any time next week. This will also be the time when new PCB chief Zaka Ashraf will attend an important International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in South Africa. BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is also the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). He is in Durban for the meeting, with Asia Cup and World Cup expected to be discussed.
India vs Pakistan: Pakistan is the host, it has the right to host all the matches in Pakistan.
While the Asia Cup schedule is yet to be released. It is learned that there is a consensus in the ACC that the event will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India is expected to play all its matches in Sri Lanka. However, Mazari said that he was not in favor of this ‘hybrid model’. He said, “Pakistan is the host, it has the right to organize all the matches in Pakistan. That’s what cricket lovers want, I don’t want a hybrid model.”
Mazari- Security is just an excuse
When Mazari was asked about India’s long-standing objection to the security of their cricketers in Pakistan, he said that “it was not a solid argument. The New Zealand team was here, before that the England cricket team was in Pakistan. He has got presidential security. Earlier, the Indian team was warmly welcomed by the fans here. Security is just an excuse. We also organized the Pakistan Super League (PSL) which had a lot of foreign players.”
Mazari appealed for the resumption of cricket tours between the two countries. He said, “It is one of the most watched cricket matches on TV. We want that, we want healthy cricket to be played. We look forward to a positive response from India.”
