‘If India…then Pakistan will withdraw from ICC Cricket World Cup 2023’, Pakistan Sports Minister warns BCCI

India and Pakistan cricket teams are scheduled to face each other in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on 15th October at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The full schedule of the 10-day World Cup has been revealed, in which Pakistan will play across 5 venues in India. But the possibility of Pakistan pulling out of the World Cup still remains as the government has set up a committee to discuss the participation of Babar Azam & Co. in the ODI World Cup starting in India from October 5.

Read this also | Pakistan PM sets up committee to decide on participation in 2023 ODI World Cup in India

Talking to an Indian newspaper, Pakistan’s Sports Minister Ehsan Mazari said that his team will not come to India if it does not cross the border to play in the Asia Cup. In case you are not aware, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Najam Sethi had agreed to play the Asia Cup in a hybrid model after India refused to travel to Pakistan to play the tournament. Under this model, Pakistan (which was the host earlier) will now get to host only 4 matches while Sri Lanka will host 9 matches of the Asia Cup. Mazari says he does not want a hybrid model, adding that Pakistan is the host and has the right to host all matches in the country.

__Team India’s schedule for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023__

#CWC23 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/LIPUVnJEeu– BCCI (@BCCI) 27 June 2023

However, Pakistan’s sports minister says that if India plays its Asia Cup matches at a neutral venue, the same should be applied to Pakistan. Mazari said, “Since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) comes under my ministry, my personal opinion is that if India demands to play its Asia Cup matches at a neutral venue, then we will also have our World Cup in India.” Will demand the same for matches.” told The Indian Express.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a committee of ministers to assess whether Pakistan would participate in the ODI World Cup. The committee will be headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

“The committee will be headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and I am among the 11 ministers who are part of it. We will discuss the issue and give our recommendations to the Prime Minister, who is also the patron-in-chief of the PCB. The prime minister will take the final decision,” Mazari said.

Accusing India of “bringing sports into politics”, Mazari said that he does not see any valid reason for the Indian government not to send its men’s cricket team to Pakistan, while relations with other sports are already going well. He refused to believe the Indian government’s ‘security concern’ while playing in Pakistan, saying that New Zealand, England and Australia had recently been toured and given presidential security.

Remember, the new PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf and BCCI secretary Jay Shah will be in South Africa soon for an important meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC). It is expected that Zaka will raise the issue of participation in the World Cup in that meeting.