Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Officer Wasim Khan said that the board wants the International Cricket Council (ICC) interference in the T20 World Cup which will be held in India in October next year. Pakistan cricket team will face an issue in getting the visas of their players and officials.
The PCB CEO also confirmed that there is no possibility of an India-Pak bilateral series in the ‘near future’ and that it will not be included in the upcoming Future Tour Program (FTP) starting 2023. India will host the T20 World Cup in October. In view of the tense diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan, the PCB has sought assurance from the ICC that they will settle the visa process of their players and support staff.
“This is an ICC matter. We have discussed our concerns,” Khan told PTI. “There is a ‘Host Agreement’ that states very clearly that the host nation (India, in this case) will have to provide visas and accommodation for teams that are due to participate in the T20 World Cup, and Pakistan is one of them, .
“We have sought assurances from the ICC that our players will receive visas and ICC is now taking this up with the BCCI because that directive and confirmation will clearly need to come from their government.”
“We have asked for a deadline till December-January, which we believe is the right thing,” he said. “We expect a response from the ICC on whether our players and officials will receive visas to participate in the tournament.
“If it (visa) is not (there), then like any nation would expect, we would also expect ICC to take that up directly with India and the Indian government through the BCCI to resolve this matter.”
“I think we have to be realistic about India and Pakistan bilateral series,” Khan said. “BCCI needs to get permission before they can play Pakistan in any bilateral series, home, away or even on neutral venues.
“I think on both sides, there is plenty of cricket to be played against other countries, but sadly for fans and players in both countries, it does not look like that India and Pakistan will be playing bilateral series in the foreseeable future. So there is no current planning that we can factor into the next FTP (2023-31) unless circumstances and viewpoints of the Indian government change. “