Acting PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf would advocate for neutral venues for Pakistan’s ODI World Cup matches at this week’s meetings in Durban, according to Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports), Ahsan Mazari. He said, “Zaka Ashraf will bring up the issue of why can’t Pakistan’s matches in the World Cup be played at neutral venues when the Indian team can’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.”
Due to geopolitical unrest, India declined to participate in the Asia Cup matches in Pakistan. As a result, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) disclosed that the continental competition would instead be staged in a hybrid format, with four games taking place in Pakistan as well as nine in Sri Lanka, from August 31 to September 17.
But due to the fragile relationship between the two nations, the PCB has informed the Apex Cricket Body and the Indian Cricket Board that their national team’s involvement in the World Cup is contingent on government approval. In Durban, for the Apex Cricket Body meetings, Ashraf and PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Taseer are anticipated to discuss India’s rejection to send a team to Pakistan claiming security concerns.
I want our World Cup matches at neutral venues: Ahsan Mazari
Mazari further asserted that certain other members from the special committee, appointed by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to make recommendations regarding the national team’s World Cup trip to India, shared his belief that Pakistan needed to take a strong stance against India’s refusal to tour the nation.
Mazari said, “I want our World Cup matches at neutral venues if India doesn’t want to send its team to Pakistan for Asia Cup. If they have security problems in Pakistan according to the Indian board, then we can also question the security situation in India.”
Before Ashraf was appointed chairman of the new cricket management committee through the government to oversee PCB affairs, prior to him Najam Sethi had negotiated the agreement alongside the ACC members, which includes the Indian Cricket Board, that Pakistan should be permitted to play host to 4-5 Asia Cup matches at home whereas the remaining matches could be played in Sri Lanka according to the hybrid model.
Fans react to Pakistan’s federal Minister’s statement on playing World Cup on neutral ground:
Federal Minister Ehsan Mazari – "PCB should also put forward a demand in ICC meeting to play WorldCup 2023 on the neutral venue because Pakistan cannot put the lives of it's cricketers on risk." #AsiaCup
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) July 11, 2023
pakistani feeling safe in pakistan is a joke ??
— Kari ?? (@kaafi_liberal) July 11, 2023
Don't come we don't care
— Knull (@King_In__Black) July 11, 2023
So plz "STAY HOME STAY SAFE"
— Austin 3:16 (@the_ashokumar) July 11, 2023
BCCI pesa phenk ke maare gi chup hojayen ge ye
— Hamza Khalid (@Hamza_5_) July 11, 2023
Beggars cannot be choosers
— Pauly (@Pulkit40035708) July 11, 2023
Mu uthake india mai aana he hai to ku itna rr kar rahe ho
— ?????™_?? (@i_am_flik) July 11, 2023
logic is yet to exist in pakistan
— kay (@biasedasusual) July 11, 2023
Hahaha ulta pakistab ke log india ayenge to india risk pe aa jayega …. kya pata kaun ladin ka hafeez sayeed ka ristedaar hoga
— Bhaveen Shah (@BhaveenShah2020) July 11, 2023
Just Like Pakistan Put Risks Of Life For Sri Lanka Player's.
Every Country Is Not Like Pakistan.— SK_27?? (@sairaj_kokate) July 11, 2023
