Need written guarantee from BCCI chief: PCB's sets condition for Pakistan team's India visit for ICC World Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said the Pakistani cricket team will visit India for the ICC ODI World Cup if BCCI chief Jay Shah gives a “written guarantee” that the Indian team would reciprocate the gesture and visit Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

According to reports, PCB supremo Najam Sethi has sought the guarantee from Shah in writing before Pakistan decided send its national side to India for World Cup games which kicks off from October 5 this year.

The BCCI has set Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi stadium as the venue for the India vs Pakistan clash while Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata are being explored as possible venues for the rest of the 2023 World Cup games for the Babar Azam-led side.

However, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which is currently under the chairmanship of BCCI chief Jay Shah, hasn’t confirmed the proposed ‘Hybrid Model’ for the upcoming Asia Cup, where India played its matches in UAE and Pakistan play their games in their home country.

As such, PCB’s Najam Sethi is playing hardball and as per reports, will hold meetings with ACC and ICC officials on May 8 in Dubai.

A report quoting a PCB source said that while in Dubai, Sethi will also likely start lobbying to garner support for Pakistan’s ‘principled stance that it will not play its World Cup matches in India unless the BCCI and ICC give written guarantees India will come to Pakistan to play in the 2025 Champions Trophy.’

The report said that Sethi recently obtained advice from top government officials on whether the national team should play in the Asia Cup if it is not held in Lahore and Dubai as proposed by the PCB under its hybrid model plan to the ACC, adding that the PCB chief has received tacit approval from government quarters to present a strong and blunt stance to the ACC members about hosting the Asia Cup in September.

The source said that it is expected that Sethi will give an ultimatum to the ACC that Pakistan will not participate in the Asia Cup this year if they did not accept PCB’s hybrid model or the if the event is moved from Pakistan, adding that Sethi would also be unwilling to accept more delays on scheduling of Asia Cup.