Minister says Pakistan shouldn’t play in India

Casting doubt over Pakistan touring India for this 12 months’s ICC World Cup, Minister of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari has mentioned that the nation ought to observe India’s lead in demanding that their matches within the mega occasion be performed at a impartial venue. 

Speaking to the Indian publication The Indian Categorical, Mazari mentioned: “My private opinion, for the reason that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) comes beneath my ministry, is that if India calls for to play their Asia Cup video games at a impartial venue, we’d additionally demand the identical for our World Cup video games in India.” 

An argument spanning a number of months kicked off final 12 months after India refused to tour Pakistan for the occasion resulting from safety issues.

A hybrid mannequin was lastly settled upon for the Asia Cup this 12 months.

The Asia Cup’s first part, containing 4 matches, might be performed in Pakistan. 

Then, the occasion will transfer to Sri Lanka for the remaining matches, together with the knockout stage. 

The Island nation will host 9 matches.

“Pakistan is the host [for the Asia Cup], it has the suitable to carry all of the matches in Pakistan. That’s what the cricket lovers need, I don’t need a hybrid mannequin,” Mazari added.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrange a high-profile committee to determine whether or not the Males in Inexperienced will journey to India for the Cricket World Cup in October-November 2023. 

Overseas Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will lead the committee.

“The committee might be headed by Overseas Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and I’m among the many 11 ministers who’re a part of it. 

“We are going to focus on the problem and provides our suggestions to the PM, who can be the patron-in-chief of PCB. The PM will take the ultimate resolution,” the IPC minister mentioned.

Throughout the interview, Mazari additionally brushed apart the notion that Pakistan wasn’t a protected nation to play cricket and criticised India for mixing politics with sports activities.

“India brings sports activities into politics. I don’t perceive why the Indian authorities doesn’t wish to ship their cricket group right here. A while again an enormous baseball contingent from India was in Islamabad to play.

“There was additionally the bridge group that had travelled to Pakistan. There have been round 60 plus folks, I used to be the chief visitor of the occasion. They received right here and left. Pakistan’s soccer, hockey and chess groups additionally journey to India,” he mentioned.

“It [security concerns] wasn’t a stable argument. The New Zealand group was right here, earlier than that the England cricket group was in Pakistan. They obtained presidential safety. 

“Earlier, the Indian group was given a hearty welcome by the followers right here. Safety is an excuse. We additionally held the Pakistan Tremendous League (PSL) that had so many international gamers,” he added.