PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD WANTS WRITTEN ASSURANCE FROM BCCI REGARDING CLEARANCE TO PLAY IN TWO WORLD CUPS IN INDIA

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the ICC to get them written assurances from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that its team would not face any problem in getting visas and clearance to play in the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2023 50 over World Cup in India, PCB CEO Wasim Khan said in interview.

As per an article by TOI, a senior official confirmed that the ICC executive board during its next meet would decide whether the next World T20 Cup would be hosted by Australia or India.

Saying that it’s unlikely the T20 World Cup could be held this year in Australia, Khan said, "The big question now is whether the 2021 T20 World Cup will be conducted in Australia or India as the latter has already got the hosting rights for the 2021 World Cup."

Khan said that in recent times many Pakistan sports squads were not granted clearance by the Indian government to play in India. For the ICC events, he said, Pakistan would go to India only after getting assurance about the security and safety of its players and officials.

Khan further said that there were realistically no chances of bilateral cricket resuming between India and Pakistan in the foreseeable future.

Asked what would be the PCB’s stance if BCCI President Sourav Ganguly decides to stand for the position of ICC Chairman after the sitting Chairman Shasank Manohar steps down next month, Khan said they are getting mixed signals and they don’t know if Ganguly will decide to stand for the position.