Pakistan’s participation in World Cup in India still uncertain as board awaits busy govt’s nod

“We have written to the ICC that we can’t give approval or disapproval to this (World Cup schedule),” ESPN cricinfo cited Sethi. “It’s our government who has to decide, just like when it comes to India, it’s their government that decides when they go to play. There is no point asking us if we will play in Ahmedabad. When the time comes, first it will be decided whether we are going or not, then the government decides where we will go. Our decision will rest on these two important conditions.”

The 2023 World Cup, set to commence on October 5, includes a highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match scheduled for 10 days later in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi stadium. Pakistan is scheduled to play matches across five venues during the league phase. There has been a delay in announcing the schedule, which is unprecedented, as World Cup itineraries are typically released at least a year in advance. An update on the schedule is anticipated on June 27.

Jay Shah, the Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary, had earlier indicated the fixture list would be released during the World Test Championship final, played on June 7-11 in London. However, that didn’t happen.

Sethi suggested that the delay may be due to the PCB needing more time to respond to the ICC’s request for feedback on the World Cup itinerary from participating countries and broadcasters, ESPN cricinfo reported.

“The BCCI were about to announce the schedule but we told them we can’t confirm without government approval,” he said.While the Pakistani government’s approval is essential before any decision can be made, it is unlikely that a prompt response will be received considering the country is preparing for the upcoming general elections in October.In 2016, the PCB sought government clearance before sending a team to India to assess the venues where Pakistan was scheduled to play. Eventually, one of their matches was relocated from Dharamsala to Kolkata’s Eden Gardens due to security concerns.

“I have taken up the issue with Prime Minister and they haven’t deliberated about this,” Sethi said. “The PM said they have to involve the foreign office as well and have to think through so it’s premature [to ask permission now]. Also, we don’t know who will be in power by then so there is no development right now. But when there is a stable government, the time will come and we will ask them [whether we can tour India].”

“We have also told ICC that considering the security situation, if our government allows us to go we will go otherwise we can’t do much. But if they give us permission then it comes down to our venue preference where we are going to play. It’s the government’s decision, not the board’s so we leave it to them. The PCB and BCCI can’t decide. Our respective governments will take that call just like we did back in 2016.”

In the meantime, India and Pakistan are set to face each other multiple times in the coming months, with the Asia Cup scheduled to start on August 31. The tournament will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with the PCB as the official hosts. The schedule, to be released soon, includes four matches in Pakistan and nine in Sri Lanka, including the final. India and Pakistan will face each other twice in the group stages and potentially once more in the final if they qualify.

The hybrid model was PCB’s idea after Shah said the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.

“The formula we gave to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was a middle ground, it was not like win or lose but it was a rational way to the problem. The schedule is being worked out, we demanded few changes and the debate is ongoing on it, but they have already said that there will be four games in Pakistan. There’s a misconception that there are two hosts, all the gates receipts are ours. Initial four matches will be in Pakistan and then the teams will travel back to Sri Lanka. It’s a very tight schedule and there are lots of logistical issues. We sat together with broadcasters and the five participating countries and it wasn’t easy to finalise it. But finally, we have broken the ice and tackled all the problems,” Sethi said.

Sethi acknowledged the challenges in reaching a solution for the Asia Cup and emphasised the hard work involved in securing the hybrid hosting model. Despite initial resistance, the PCB’s proposal was accepted, allowing for a shared hosting arrangement with Sri Lanka. Sethi also highlighted the significance of the hybrid model for future use.

As the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup persists, all eyes are on the government’s decision and its potential impact on the tournament’s schedule and matchups.