NEW DELHI: Regardless of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressing considerations about sending its staff to India for the upcoming ODI World Cup, the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) stays “assured” that the Babar Azam-led squad will take part within the prestigious 50-over event.
Throughout the announcement of the event fixtures on Tuesday, the ICC turned down the PCB’s request to keep away from scheduling their matches in Chennai and Bengaluru in opposition to particular groups.
The PCB had expressed reservations about taking part in Afghanistan on a spin-friendly observe in Chennai and most popular to keep away from dealing with 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 taking part in in Ahmedabad on October 15 or in Mumbai if we qualify for semifinals 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 subject, the Board can solely transfer ahead after getting clear directives from its authorities.
“We have now already knowledgeable the ICC that our participation within the event 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 signed a participation settlement to compete and the world governing physique “100% expects them to be there and has had no indications on the contrary”.
“All members need to abide by the principles and the legal guidelines of their nation and we respect that. However we’re assured Pakistan shall be in India for the lads’s cricket World Cup,” an ICC spokesperson advised 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 as a result of 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 menace and never on cricketing grounds.
With the elections for the publish of PCB chairman now postponed no less than till July 17, it stays to be seen how the Board reacts to the World Cup schedule announcement.
With the Balochistan Excessive Court docket issuing a keep order in opposition to the holding of elections for the Chairman’s publish on Monday on petitions filed by two former members of the PCB’s cricket administration committee, confusion reigns in Pakistan cricket in the mean 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 publish, has to win votes of the Board of Governors to formally take cost of the important thing publish.