"We Can Also Have Security Concerns Over Sending Our Team To India For The World Cup" - Najam Sethi On Asia Cup Saga

The Asia Cup 2023 is unlikely to happen in Pakistan, despite having the hosting rights, as the relationships between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been strained. PCB chief Najam Sethi threatened to boycott the 2023 ODI World Cup if India didn’t come to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.

The 13th edition of the ODI World Cup will be the first ODI tournament to be held entirely in India later this year. Earlier, the BCCI secretary and the ACC president, Jay Shah made an announcement that Indian players will not travel to Pakistan for the continental tournament and that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a neutral venue.

IPL 2023 | Australia tour of India 2023 | Dream11 Prediction | Fantasy Cricket Tips | Cricket Match Prediction Today | Cricket News | Cricket Live Score

I Have Kept All Options Open For Us – Najam Sethi

Najam Sethi said that he would raise the issue of hosting the 2023 Asia Cup in the upcoming ACC and ICC meetings to take a clear stand, keeping all options open. He said that if India does not come to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the PCB will consider not playing the World Cup in India.

“We have complex issues on hand but for me when I go to the ACC and ICC meetings I have kept all options open for us and we have to take a clear position now,” he said at a press conference here on Monday.

“I have kept my options open because when all teams are coming to Pakistan and have no issues with security. Then why is India worried about security. In the same way we can also have security concerns over sending our team to India for the World Cup and I will be bringing this to the table at the coming meetings,” he added.

IPL 2023 | India National Cricket Team | IND vs AUS 2023 | India vs Australia 2023

We Want To Hold The Asia Cup – Najam Sethi

Sethi will represent Pakistan at the ICC CEO and Executive Board meetings this month. Sethi said the PCB disagreed with India’s stance as they wanted the Asia Cup and Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan in 2025.

“Obviously we don’t support this stance (by India) because we want to hold the Asia Cup and remember it is not just about the Asia Cup and World Cup it is also about the Champions Trophy in 2025 in Pakistan,” Sethi said.

“I had sought advice from the government and the situation is that we have to go by what our patron-in-chief tells us to do. If he says go and play in World Cup even if India doesn’t come for Asia Cup, what can we do? If he says don’t go it is a similar situation for us.” Sethi further said.

Also read: PSL 2023: Shaheen Afridi Likely To Lead Pakistan Against Afghanistan In The Absence Of Babar Azam – Reports

Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah