The political tensions between India and Pakistan have solid a somber cloud over the extremely anticipated conflict between these arch rivals in the 2023 ODI World Cup. This monumental match is about to happen on the prestigious Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15. According to a report in The Indian Express, Ehsaan Mazari, the minister chargeable for sports activities in Pakistan, has imposed stringent circumstances for Pakistan’s participation in the event.
Mazari acknowledged that Pakistan would make comparable demands if the BCCI fails to ship their gamers throughout the border for the Asia Cup. The two cricket boards, BCCI and PCB, have been engaged in a heated dispute over the venue for the Asia Cup. Initially, the event was deliberate to happen solely in Pakistan. However, India’s unwillingness to journey throughout the border led the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to suggest a hybrid mannequin. It has been reported that the event will now be held in each Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
“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 was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
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The sports activities minister’s assertion comes simply someday after Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, established a high-level committee to decide the country’s involvement in the celebrated showpiece occasion.
“The committee will probably be headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and I’m among the many 11 ministers who’re a part of it. We will focus on the problem and provides our suggestions to the PM, who can also be the patron-in-chief of PCB. The PM will take the ultimate choice,” Mazari said.
Mazari additionally conveyed his dissatisfaction with the proposed ‘hybrid’ mannequin for the Asia Cup. “As the host, Pakistan possesses the rightful authority to host all the matches within its borders. This is the desire of cricket enthusiasts, and I, too, oppose the idea of a hybrid model,” he firmly acknowledged.
He additional accused India of interfering with the intersection of sports activities and politics, significantly in the realm of cricket.
“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 stated.
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