PCB Chairman: Pakistan's Participation in ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Depends on Government Decision

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi’s recent statement regarding Pakistan’s participation in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 has sparked a fresh debate. Sethi emphasized that the final decision lies in the hands of the government.

During a press conference on Friday, Sethi clarified, “As far as India and Pakistan go, neither the PCB nor the BCCI can make decisions. Only the respective governments have the authority to decide.”

When asked about the venue for the India-Pakistan match, Sethi reiterated that the government from both countries would make the call. The Cricketing Boards of both countries have to follow the protocols laid down by their respective governments.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) recently unveiled a hybrid model for the Asia Cup 2023, with Pakistan hosting four matches out of the 13 scheduled, while the remaining nine matches will be played in Sri Lanka.

The tournament, set to take place from August 31 to September 17, 2023, will feature India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal.

Regarding the hybrid model, Sethi explained, “This hybrid model is a solution to the longstanding issue between India and Pakistan, and I have proposed this solution to resolve it.”

He further elaborated on the division of matches, stating, “These four matches could have been more, but it wasn’t feasible for teams to play in Pakistan and then travel to Sri Lanka. Therefore, we separated the matches, with four to be played here and the rest in Sri Lanka.”

Sethi also addressed the prolonged absence of India’s cricketteam from Pakistan, stating, “It has been 15 years since they last visited, so it is nothing new. We had only one option, which was to boycott, as they were not giving us even a single match. However, the implications of such a decision are well known.”

The final decision on Pakistan’s participation in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 and the venue for the India-Pakistan match will be determined by the respective governments. The statement by the PCB Chairman has reignited discussions about the future of cricketing relations between the two neighboring countries.

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