ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan Fans Lose Their Call After Harsha Bhogle Takes Brutal Dig At PCB For Delaying World Cup Confirmation

Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle has taken a sly at Pakistan after they confirmed their participation in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.

On Sunday (August 6), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that they have received the green light from the Pakistan government to travel to India for the marquee event. With the bilateral ties between India and Pakistan suspended, the cricket boards of both the countries need permission from their respective governments for traveling to the other country.

As far as PCB is concerned, it first threatened to boycott the World Cup after BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced that India would not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup due to the strained relationship. The PCB then came up with a hybrid model, suggesting that Pakistan and a neutral venue would co-host the tournament.

And although the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) did not accept Pakistan’s proposal of picking the UAE as a neutral venue, they eventually accepted the hybrid model. As a result, Sri Lanka will co-host this year’s continental championship along with Pakistan. But even after that, the PCB did not finalize their participation in the World Cup.

Harsha Bhogle takes a dig at Pakistan:

Reports even suggested that Scotland was likely to replace Pakistan in the World Cup. But after a lot of delay and confusion, Pakistan have finally confirmed that they would travel to India for the marquee event. And as the PCB confirmed the development, Harsha Bhogle took to Twitter to take a dig at them.

The veteran commentator said that Pakistan ‘were always going to come to the World Cup’ despite the defiant statements and the grand pronouncements they made, tweeting: “Forget the defiant statements, the grand pronouncements, Pakistan were always going to come to the World Cup. We knew this two months ago. That is also the way their players would have wanted it.”

Forget the defiant statements, the grand pronouncements, Pakistan were always going to come to the World Cup. We knew this two months ago. That is also the way their players would have wanted it.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 7, 2023

The tweet, however, did not go down too well with some Pakistan fans who were quick to hit it back at Harsha Bhogle. Here are some of the reactions:

Atleast keep the guts to say something to your board. They don't have the ethics to reciprocate the goodwill gesture.
I can say Pakistanis have the best sportsman spirit in the world and India being the least

— ???????? (@sameedshakil) August 7, 2023

Harsha wipe your face when you're done.

— Waqas Ahmed (@ahmedwaqas992) August 8, 2023

Chalo you know this 2 months ago but we still don't know the final World Cup schedule or ticket situation. What a tournament.

— محسن Mohsin (@Mohsin_Z4) August 7, 2023

This is actually sad and heartbreaking. The so called voice of cricket turned into voice of hatred, entitlement and arrogance. Instead of questioning the blunders made by BCCI, Harsha Bhogle acting as a paid tout of BJP's IT cell. Such a sad decline to watch as a cricket fan. https://t.co/J6EHoMB43y

— Abdullah (@abdullahhammad4) August 7, 2023

Forget about Pakistan, first ask your richest Cricket Board to make a world cup schedule ! They even can't organise a tournament with no chaos but but you MR bhogle buttering on Twitter. https://t.co/oVSFLKzQQL

— Komal see ♡ (@Komal_see) August 7, 2023

Meanwhile, World Cup 2023 is scheduled to be played from October 5 to November 19. Before the World Cup, both India and Pakistan would play in the Asia Cup.