The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Najam Sethi, has conveyed a strong message to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming ODI World Cup.
Recent reports suggest that Sethi has warned the ICC bosses that his team will refuse to play at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad unless compelled to do so during the knockout stage. The winter edition of the ODI World Cup is scheduled to commence on October 05, 2023.
Geoff Allardice, the ICC General Manager, and Greg Barclay recently visited Pakistan to seek assurances regarding their participation in the ODI World Cup. Currently, the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are embroiled in a dispute over the organization of the Asia Cup.
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India has declined to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, and a hybrid model has been proposed to ensure a smooth passage for the Asia Cup.
Furthermore, Sethi highlighted the disparity in revenue sharing between Pakistan and cricket powerhouses like Australia and England during the new ICC revenue cycle.
He argued that Australia and England benefit from regular bilateral series with India and their players’ participation in the Indian Premier League, resulting in additional revenues for the two boards from IPL management.
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Additionally, the PCB chief expressed dissatisfaction with the revenue share that Pakistan is set to receive from ICC tournaments after the recent meeting.
Pakistan’s share is expected to be lower than that of Australia and England, while India will receive the majority share of the revenue generated by upcoming ICC tournaments.
On another note, the Asia Cup model is currently undecided as the Asia Cricket Council (ACC), led by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, is expected to finalize the venues in the coming days. The ACC will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the Asia Cup’s venue selection process.
