In what comes as another major twist pertaining to Pakistan's participation in the 2023 ODI World Cup, the country's sports minister Ehsaan Mazari has made a resounding statement. Mazari, who is not in favour of the hybrid model for the 2023 Asia Cup, said that if India doesn't travel to Pakistan and play Asia Cup matches at a neutral venue then the Men in Green won't travel to India for the quadrennial competition later in the year and would want to play World Cup matches at a neutral venue.
"My personal opinion, since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) comes under my ministry, is that if India demands to play their Asia Cup games at a neutral venue, we would also demand the same for our World Cup games in India," Mazari told The Indian Express.
Mazari is part of the 11-member ministers' committee appointed by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to create a concrete roadmap when it comes to Pakistan's participation in the ODI World Cup.
As per the hybrid model approved for the 2023 Asia Cup, Pakistan will host four matches while the remaining nine games will be played in Sri Lanka. The 2023 Asia Cup will begin on August 31 while the final of the tournament has been scheduled for September 17.
Mazari made it clear that he doesn't want a hybrid model for the 2023 Asia Cup and wants that all the matches should be staged in Pakistan.
“Pakistan is the host, it has the right to hold all the matches in Pakistan. That is what the cricket lovers want, I don’t want a hybrid model," Mazari said.
"India brings sports into politics. I don’t understand why the Indian government doesn’t want to send their cricket team here. Some time back a huge baseball contingent from India was in Islamabad to play. There was also the bridge team that had travelled to Pakistan. There were around 60 plus people, I was the chief guest of the event. They won here and left. Pakistan’s football, hockey and chess teams also travel to India," he added.
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