The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday dismissed reports that the Board had proposed playing their ICC ODI World Cup 2023 matches, to be hosted by India, at a neutral venue, mirroring the stance taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in relation to their Asia Cup 2023 matches, to be hosted by Pakistan.
While the BCCI, in an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting, had clearly stated that they won’t travel to Pakistan to participate in the upcoming Asia Cup, several news reports stated that the PCB had also discussed the idea of playing their ODI World Cup matches at a neutral venue.
Following intense scrutiny from fans and media persons on social media, the PCB has now issued a clarification. It said that Najam Sethi, the PCB Chairman, never put forward such a proposal.
Referring to the reports in Rawalpindi/Islamabad on Thursday, Sethi said he had briefed the media on the hybrid model he had presented to the ACC officials for the Asia Cup to end the impasse that had been created following the BCCI’s decision to not send its team to Pakistan.
“This proposal – to play India’s matches at a neutral venue and the rest in Pakistan – is under discussions within the ACC,” he said. “At no stage during Thursday’s media interaction did I give any reference to the ICC or make any remarks on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which is scheduled in October. This matter has not been mooted or discussed at any ICC forum so far.
“In this background, the PCB is disappointed that a leading English language newspaper has misquoted, misinterpreted and misrepresented Mr Sethi’s comments and gave the impression that PCB’s hybrid model was presented and discussed at the ICC, which is factually incorrect. At this stage, the PCB is only in discussions with the ACC over the hosting of the ACC Asia Cup and no discussions regarding the World Cup have taken place with the ICC.
“This is not to say that the hybrid model will not be advocated at the proper ICC forum at the right time.”