India has declined to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup, preferring that the event be hosted in a neutral nation, causing PCB to respond tit-for-tat.
Senior International Cricket Council (ICC) officials have been to Pakistan to ensure the country’s participation in this year’s 50-overs World Cup in India, which had been in doubt due to political considerations. Bilateral cricket has suffered as a result of India and Pakistan’s strained ties over the previous decade, and the neighbours now only play each other in multi-team competitions at neutral locations.
India has declined to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup in September, preferring that the event be hosted in a neutral nation, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to respond tit-for-tat.
Its chairman, Najam Sethi, told Reuters earlier this month that there was a “very real possibility” of Pakistan boycotting the World Cup in India if PCB’s plan to host at least some Asia Cup matches on home soil was not approved.
The PCB said in a statement that ICC Chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice will arrive in Lahore on Tuesday to meet Sethi and other cricket officials during their two-day tour.
“That’s obviously something that’s ongoing at the moment,” ICC General Manager Wasim Khan said at a virtual news conference on Monday when questioned about Pakistan’s World Cup participation.
“That’s obviously something that’s ongoing at the moment,” ICC General Manager Wasim Khan said at a virtual news conference on Monday when questioned about Pakistan’s World Cup participation.
“Our CEO, Geoff Allardice, and Greg are currently in Pakistan discussing a number of issues with the PCB hierarchy.”
“But it’s certainly up to the two countries and the ICC hierarchy to discuss them and come to some conclusions,” former PCB CEO Khan remarked.
The Asian Cricket Council, which is led by Indian board secretary Jay Shah, is expected to announce the Asia Cup dates and site this week.
Dates and locations for the World Cup, which will be held in October-November, will be revealed following the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London on June 7.
