PCB to advocate for neutral venues for Pakistan’s World Cup matches

Zaka Ashraf, the acting chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), will raise the issue of playing Pakistan’s ODI World Cup matches at neutral venues during the upcoming ICC meetings in Durban. Ahsan Mazari, the Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports), confirmed this stance, citing the Indian team’s inability to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.

The PCB has recently informed the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup is contingent upon government clearance, given the strained relations between the two nations.

Ashraf and Salman Taseer, the PCB’s chief operating officer, are attending the ICC meetings in Durban, where they are expected to discuss India’s refusal to send their team to Pakistan, citing security concerns.

“If India doesn’t want to send their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup due to security concerns, then I believe our World Cup matches should also be played at neutral venues. We can question the security situation in India as well,” Mazari expressed his views on the matter.