The ICC turned down the Pakistan Cricket Board's demand for a change in the schedule and venue of the ODI World Cup. According to the final schedule of the World Cup released on Tuesday, Pakistan's match against India has been decided in Ahmedabad. At the same time, the ICC turned down the PCB's demand to change the venue of Pakistan's matches against Afghanistan and Australia.
The PCB had requested the ICC and the BCCI to shift the match against Afghanistan to Bengaluru and the match against Australia to Chennai. However, after the schedule came, it has been decided that the Pakistan-Afghanistan match will be played in Chennai and the Pakistan-Australia match in Bengaluru.
The Pakistan team management fears that Afghanistan can take advantage of the spin-friendly track at Chepauk. However, the ICC turned down all the demands of the PCB. Now Pakistan has given a clarion call not to come to India again, while the ICC has released the schedule only after asking about its availability.
PCB will take a decision only after asking the government
The elections for the post of PCB chairman have now been postponed till at least July 17 but it remains to be seen how the board reacts to the announcement of the World Cup schedule. No official statement has come from the PCB so far. However, an official source clarified that the schedule will be sent to the government for approval. "Our participation in the World Cup, the match against India in Ahmedabad on October 15, or playing in Mumbai, if we qualify for the semi-finals, will all depend on the government's approval," he said.
The government of Pakistan did not issue NOC
He said that till now the government has not issued any NOC to PCB to travel to India and since it is a sensitive issue, the board can go ahead only after getting clear instructions from its government. "We have already informed the ICC that any issues with our participation in the tournament or at the venues are primarily related to the government's clearance for the PCB to travel to India," the official said.
The last time the Pakistani team came to India was in 2016
Pakistan last played T20 World Cup in 2016 in India. A stay order was issued by the Balochistan High Court on Monday against holding the election for the post of chairman on petitions filed by two former members of PCB's Cricket Management Committee. Not only this, there is confusion in Pakistan cricket as to how this kind of controversy will affect Pakistan's World Cup campaign. At present, the board is being run by the interim president Ahmed Shahzad Farooq Rana.
Pakistan's semi-final match will be held in Kolkata
Zaka Ashraf, the presidential nominee, will have to win the vote of the board of governors to officially take over as the premier. Two venues have been decided for the World Cup semi-finals. The first semi-final will be played in Mumbai and the second in Kolkata. However, the ICC has also placed a condition on Pakistan. According to the ICC, if the Pakistan team reaches the semi-finals, it will play its match in Kolkata only. On the other hand, if Team India reaches the semi-finals, it will play its match at Wankhede in Mumbai. If India meets Pakistan in the semi-finals, India will have to play in Kolkata only.
(pc amarujala)
