Pakistan to withdraw from World Cup if…

Mazari, in an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, has voiced his personal opinion as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) falls under his ministry. He has claimed that, if India insists on playing their Asia Cup matches at a neutral venue, Pakistan will demand the same for their World Cup matches in India.

This statement comes in response to the formation of a high-profile committee by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, tasked with examining the nation’s participation in the upcoming World Cup hosted by India. The committee, headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, aims to provide recommendations to the Prime Minister, who also serves as the patron-in-chief of the PCB.

While the exact schedule for the Asia Cup is yet to be announced, it is believed that the event will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Reports suggest that India may play all their matches in Sri Lanka, a concept that Mazari opposes, asserting Pakistan’s right to host all the matches on its soil.

Mazari expressed his confusion regarding India’s reluctance to play cricket in Pakistan, accusing the Indian government of politicising sports. He highlighted instances of other Indian sports teams visiting Pakistan, including a baseball contingent and a bridge team, emphasising the need for cricket tours to resume between the two nations.

In response to concerns about security, Mazari dismissed them as unsubstantiated, pointing out that New Zealand and England cricket teams had recently toured Pakistan, receiving presidential-level security. He further mentioned the successful hosting of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which featured numerous foreign players.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has called on Pakistan to honour its participation agreement for the World Cup, expressing confidence that they will be present in India for the prestigious tournament.

Updated: 09 Jul 2023, 01:46 PM IST