PCB Uncertain But ICC ‘Confident’ Pakistan Will Travel to India to Compete in the ODI World Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still hesitant about dispatching its team to India for the ODI World Cup, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) is “confident” that Babar Azam’s squad will participate in the 50-over tournament.

The ICC announced the schedule for the tournament from October 5 to November 19 on June 27 and denied PCB’s request to avoid scheduling matches against specific teams in Chennai and Bengaluru.

PCB did not want to play Afghanistan in Chennai on a spin-friendly pitch and also avoided Australia in Benglauru.

As part of the announcement made in Mumbai, it was verified that Pakistan will face India on October 15 in Ahmedabad, as well as Australia (October 20) and Afghanistan (October 23) at predetermined venues.

The PCB made it plain shortly after the announcement that its participation in the ODI World Cup is contingent on government approval.

A PCB official stated, “Our participation in the World Cup and our ability to play in Ahmedabad on October 15 or in Mumbai if we qualify for the semi-finals will be contingent on government approval.”

The PCB official stated that the government has not yet granted the PCB permission to travel to India, and since this is a sensitive matter, the Board cannot proceed until it receives explicit instructions from its government.

“We have already informed the ICC that our participation in the tournament or any venue-related issues are contingent on the PCB receiving government permission to travel to India,” said the official.

Pakistan has a signed participation agreement to compete, and the international regulatory body “absolutely expects them to be there and has received no contrary indications.”

“We recognize that all members must abide by the rules and regulations of their respective countries. However, we are confident that Pakistan will be in India for the men’s cricket World Cup, said an ICC spokesperson to PTI. In 2016, Pakistan last competed in India during the T20 World Cup. Due to the tense relations between the two countries, the two teams face each other in ICC events and the Asia Cup.

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to deny Pakistan’s request to relocate two matches was anticipated, as the ICC typically addresses concerns over venues based on potential security threats and not cricketing grounds. Elections for PCB chairman have been postponed until at least July 17, so it remains to be seen how the Board will respond to the World Cup schedule announcement.

As a result of the Balochistan High Court issuing a stay order against the holding of elections for the Chairman’s post on Monday in response to petitions lodged by two former members of the PCB’s cricket management committee, Pakistan cricket is currently in a state of confusion.

After Najam Sethi’s resignation, Ahmed Shehzad Farooq Rana is serving as interim chairman of the Board.

Zaka Ashraf, who has been nominated for the position of chairman, must receive approval from the Board of Governors before he can assume the leadership role.