Senior Officials Of The Apex Cricket Council Visit Pakistan To Ensure Their Participation In 50-Over World Cup

Najam Sethi-Jay Shah (Source: Twitter)

Amid the ongoing standoff between the Indian Cricket Board and Pakistan Cricket Board over the participation of India in the Asia Cup and Pakistan in the World Cup, senior members of the Apex cricket council visited Pakistan. This tour is a bid to secure Pakistan's participation in the 50-over World Cup, which will be organized in India later this year.

Notably, bilateral cricket has suffered as a result of India and Pakistan's strained ties over the last decade, with the neighbours only playing each other in multi-team events at neutral venues. Meanwhile, things got escalated when India declined to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in September, preferring that the tournament be hosted in a neutral nation, prompting a tit-for-tat response from the PCB.

In a recent press release, Pakistan Cricket Board revealed that Apex Cricket Council's Chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice would arrive in Lahore on Tuesday for a two-day tour to meet Sethi and other cricket authorities. This will be done in a bid to secure their participation in the prestigious tournament. It is also seen as Apex Cricket Council's bid to get a resolution over Asia Cup.

"That's something ongoing", says Wasim Khan

Ahead of the most awaited meeting, the General Manager of Apex Cricket Council and PCB CEO, Wasim Khan speaks about the issue. In a virtual press conference, Khan confirmed that Council is looking for confirmation from PCB over their participation in the world cup. "Geoff Allardice, our CEO, and Greg are in Pakistan at the moment discussing several areas with the PCB hierarchy. But that's certainly up to the two countries and the hierarchy within the ICC to discuss them and come to some conclusions," added former PCB CEO Khan.

Notably, Indian Cricket Board is set to announce the schedule and venues for the upcoming 50-over world cup during the finals of the Test Championship. India will take on Australia at the Oval Cricket Ground in London in the finals on June 7. Meanwhile, Asian Cricket Council is also likely to announce the venue and schedule for the Asia Cup 2023 in the upcoming weeks.