The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continues to be apprehensive about sending its group to India for the ODI World Cup however Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) is “assured” that the Babar Azam-led group will compete within the 50-over showpiece.
The ICC on Tuesday introduced the fixtures for the October 5-November 19 match and rejected PCB’s request to not schedule their matches in Chennai and Bengaluru in opposition to particular groups.
PCB didn’t need to play Afghanistan on a spin-friendly observe in Chennai and likewise needed to keep away from going through Australia in Bengaluru.
As a part of the announcement in Mumbai, it was confirmed that Pakistan will lock horns with India in Ahmedabad on October 15 and tackle Australia (October 20) and Afghanistan (October 23) at pre-decided venues.
Quickly after the announcement, the PCB made it clear that its participation within the ODI World Cup shall be topic to authorities clearance. “Our participation within the World Cup and us enjoying in Ahmedabad on October 15 or in Mumbai if we qualify for semi-finals will all be depending on authorities clearance,” mentioned a PCB official.
The PCB official mentioned the federal government has not but issued any NOC to the PCB to journey to India and because it was a delicate situation, the Board can solely transfer ahead after getting clear directives from its authorities.
“We’ve already knowledgeable the ICC that our participation within the match or any points over venues is linked to firstly the PCB getting clearance from the federal government to journey to India,” the official mentioned.
Pakistan have a signed participation settlement to compete and the world governing physique “100 per cent expects them to be there and has had no indications on the contrary”.
“All members must abide by the foundations and the legal guidelines of their nation and we respect that. However we’re assured Pakistan shall be in India for the boys’s cricket World Cup,” an ICC spokesperson informed PTI.
Pakistan final performed in India in 2016 within the T20 World Cup. The 2 groups play one another within the ICC occasions and Asia Cup because of the tense relations between the 2 international locations.
The ICC not entertaining Pakistan’s request to relocate two matches was on anticipated traces because it often addresses considerations over venues on potential safety threats and never on cricketing grounds.
With the elections for the put up of PCB chairman now postponed at the very least till July 17, it stays to be seen how the Board reacts to the World Cup schedule announcement.
With the Balochistan Excessive Courtroom issuing a keep order in opposition to the holding of elections for the Chairman’s put up on Monday on petitions filed by two former members of the PCB’s cricket administration committee, confusion reigns in Pakistan cricket in the intervening time.
After Najam Sethi’s resignation, the Board is being run by interim chairman Ahmed Shehzad Farooq Rana.
Zaka Ashraf, nominated for the chairman’s put up, has to win votes of the Board of Governors to formally take cost of the important thing put up.
