LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday, stood firm on their stance regarding participation in this year’s ICC Men’s ODI World Cup in India amid the high-stakes meeting with International Cricket Council (ICC) top officials.
According to the details, the PCB categorically informed the ICC officials – Chairman Greg Barclay and Chief Executive Geoff Allardice – that the board will follow the orders of the Pakistan government for the World Cup if the Indian team does not travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup.
Details further suggest that the important meeting between the two parties also failed to come to a conclusion regarding an increase in PCB’s share in the ICC revenue while Asian Cricket Council (ACC) issues were also discussed in the meeting.
Consequently, the negotiations between PCB and ICC officials will resume tomorrow.
It is pertinent to mention that ICC’s supreme delegation arrived in Lahore on Tuesday morning on a two-day visit to meet the PCB’s top officials.
International Cricket Council’s high-ups were received by the Chair of the PCB Management Committee Mr Najam Sethi (also an ICC Director) when they reached the board’s headquarters at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
PCB Chief Operating Officer Barrister Salman Naseer and other board officials were also present on the occasion.
The visit is believed to be of enormous importance since it came at a time when the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were at odds over the fate of the 2023 Asia Cup.
Notably, it is the first time Mr Barclay, ICC Chairman, has visited the country. However, Mr Allardice has regularly visited Pakistan, first as ICC General Manager – Cricket and then as ICC Chief Executive.
Mr Barclay is also the first ICC Chairman to tour Pakistan since ICC President Ray Mali’s visit in 2008. This will also be the first time since October 2004 that both the top two ICC officials together visited the Pakistan cricket headquarters.
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