LAHORE 01 June (Online): Pakistan will participate in the upcoming World Cup in India only if the country\u2019s cricket board is provided with a guarantee that the hosts of the 50-over showpiece will return the favour by travelling across the border for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.<\/p>\n
The Pakistan Cricket Board\u2019s (PCB) leadership placed the demand in front of the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Greg Barclay and chief executive Geoff Allardice on the second and final day of the officials\u2019 tour to the board\u2019s headquarters on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The PCB\u2019s interim Management Committee chairman Najam Sethi had recently warned that Pakistan boycotting the World Cup was \u201cvery much a possibility\u201d in the back drop of Board of Control for Cricket in India\u2019s (BCCI) refusal to send its team to the country for the Asia Cup, which is scheduled in September.<\/p>\n
The BCCI, so far, is also opposed to accepting the PCB-proposed \u201chybrid model\u201d for the continental tournament, which would see group matches not involving India held in Pakistan before the event moves to a neutral venue Even if the proposal is accepted, the PCB would mull playing the World Cup at a venue outside India and would provide the latter the same option come the Champions Trophy.<\/p>\n
The Asia Cup, however, is a matter that doesn\u2019t concern the ICC and its top two officials preferred to stick to the issues revolving around the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Sethi and co, therefore, asked the ICC officials a formal assurance of India\u2019s participation in the Champions Trophy, the hosting rights of which were awarded to Pakistan two years ago.<\/p>\n
Barclay and Allardice\u2019s visit, although a \u201cscheduled\u201d one, is a high-profile one given the scenario, but there has been silence from both the ICC and the PCB and neither have made any officials announcements so far.<\/p>\n
Discussions over the ICC\u2019s expected revenue sharing model \u2014 leaked figures of which have revealed that India would take away 38.5 per cent of the body\u2019s revenue, while Pakistan would get a mere 5.75 per cent \u2014 also continued between the PCB and the ICC officials.<\/p>\n
According to sources, Pakistan\u2019s concerns and the whole issue regarding its deadlock with the BCCI will be discussed during the upcoming ICC Board meetings.<\/p>\n
However, given India\u2019s stranglehold over the world\u2019s cricket economy, would make it difficult for the ICC to entertain PCB\u2019s asks. In such circumstances, the PCB may well consider forfeiting it\u2019s matches in the World Cup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE 01 June (Online): Pakistan will participate in the upcoming World Cup in India only if the country\u2019s cricket board is provided with a guarantee that the hosts of the 50-over showpiece will return the favour by travelling across the border for the ICC Champions […]<\/p>\n
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