BCCI vs PCB in ICC meeting: Future of IND vs PAK match at stake

In the anticipated clash between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) is gearing up for crucial discussions. Newly appointed PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf is set to attend the ICC meeting in Durban next week, where BCCI secretary Jay Shah will also be present. The primary agenda revolves around determining Pakistan’s participation in both Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023.

Look at this, India has 2 high octane matches before India vs Pakistan and Pakistan has matches with qualifiers before India vs Pakistan, so India will have a great warm up and Pakistan will go through with qualifiers. #CWC23 #ICCWorldCup2023 #BCCI #pcb #ICC pic.twitter.com/IsD39VUWao– Hussain Muhammad Aslam (@HussnainAslam1) 27 June 2023

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Pakistan’s participation in these tournaments is looming large, as assurances prior to their team’s tour of India for their World Cup tie with India have been met with disappointment from the Pakistan government regarding the Asia Cup. Initially, Pakistan was named as the host for the Asia Cup, but due to the BCCI’s refusal to send its team to Pakistan, a hybrid model would be adopted. As a result, Pakistan will host only four matches, with Sri Lanka taking over the remaining fixtures, including the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan tie.

Under mounting pressure from Pakistan’s Sports Ministry, Zaka Ashraf will meet Jay Shah to discuss the terms and conditions of Pakistan’s tour of India for the World Cup. Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup may depend on their ability to host the entire Asia Cup in 2023. “Pakistan is the host; it has the right to hold all matches in Pakistan. That’s what cricket lovers want, not me. They want a hybrid model,” Ehsan Mazari, Pakistan’s minister in charge of sports, told The Indian Express.

India has refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan amidst diplomatic tension between the two neighboring countries. However, other sports teams, such as the Indian bridge and baseball teams, have toured Pakistan, while Pakistan’s chess, hockey and football teams have traveled to India. Sadly, when it comes to cricket, Pakistan only tours India for ICC events, as India has refused to attend bilateral cricket matches. Both sides aim to find a middle ground to ensure smooth progress of both the tournaments as per schedule. However, the Asia Cup schedule has faced further delays due to this ongoing dispute.

Despite the current tensions, the ICC is confident that Pakistan will honor its participation agreement and tour India for the World Cup. “Pakistan has signed a participation agreement to compete, and we expect them to be there and there is no indication to the contrary. All members must abide by their country’s rules and regulations, and we will respect that.” However, we believe Pakistan will be in India for the Men’s Cricket World Cup,” the ICC said in a statement to The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has set up a panel headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto to assess whether Pakistan should go ahead with the trip to India for the World Cup. Ehsan Mazari is also a member of this panel and since the PCB comes under his ministry, the ICC meeting assumes vital importance at this juncture.