The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Najam Sethi, has warned that Pakistan may boycott this year's World Cup in India if they lose hosting rights to the Asia Cup. The souring political relations between India and Pakistan over the last decade have meant that bilateral cricket has been limited to multi-team events in neutral venues.
Safety Concerns Force Asia Cup to UAE
India has refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in September, citing safety concerns, and the PCB has offered to let them play their matches in a "hybrid model" in the United Arab Emirates. However, India has not yet given a formal response to the offer, and Sethi claims that India wants the entire tournament to be moved out of Pakistan. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have also come out against playing in the UAE due to the heat and logistics issues, prompting speculation that the Asian Cricket Council may move the entire tournament out of Pakistan.
Pakistan Threatens Boycott of World Cup
Sethi claims that if the Asia Cup is moved out of Pakistan, Pakistan may boycott this year's World Cup in India. The country's cricket board chief argues that India should not be looking at a situation where Pakistan ends up boycotting the Asia Cup and the World Cup, leading to India boycotting the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Such a scenario would cause a "huge mess," Sethi warned.
Pakistan Wants Reciprocal Terms for World Cup
If India agrees to the hybrid model for the Asia Cup, Sethi says that Pakistan would expect reciprocal terms for their team at the World Cup in October and November. Pakistan also has security concerns for their team in India, and so Pakistan should play its matches in Dhaka or Mirpur, or in the UAE or Sri Lanka. This would be the solution going forward, until India agrees to play Pakistan bilaterally in Pakistan and outside Pakistan.
Top Cricketing Nation Should Not Be Ignored
Sethi argues that Pakistan, a top cricketing nation, should not be ignored, and they will have to talk to the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the Asia Cup problem. The ICC should step in, but Sethi believes that India would not like the ICC to step in, especially during the Asia Cup.
The Stubbornness of the BCCI
Sethi blames the stubbornness of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for failing to turn the India-Pakistan game into the greatest rivalry in cricket. The Indian bridge team, kabaddi team, and baseball team have all been to Pakistan, so Sethi questions why the Indian cricket team cannot come to Pakistan.
Conclusion
The dispute over hosting rights for the Asia Cup has led to warnings of a possible boycott of the World Cup by Pakistan. The PCB Chairman, Najam Sethi, has blamed the BCCI for the lack of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan, accusing them of stubbornness. If the ICC does not intervene, the Asia Cup may be moved out of Pakistan, and if that happens, Pakistan may boycott this year's World Cup in India.
FAQs
- Why does India not want to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup?
- India has cited safety concerns for their refusal to travel to Pakistan.
- What is the "hybrid model" for the Asia Cup?
- The hybrid model would allow India to play their matches in the United Arab Emirates.
- What would happen if the Asia Cup is moved out of Pakistan?
- Pakistan may boycott this year's World Cup in India.
- What are Pakistan's security concerns for their team in India?
- Pakistan has concerns about the security of their team while playing in India.