The ICC recently announced the official and complete schedule for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023, which is set to be held entirely in India for the first time ever, starting on October 15. Whereas before the World Cup, the Asia Cup is going to take place in the month of September. But the schedule of the tournament has yet to be announced.
After alot of speculations and complex decisions, Asia cup is all set to take place in a hybrid model as Pakistan and Sri Lanka will host Asia Cup 2023 together where in total 6 teams will fight to lift the final trophy.
Pakistan Sports Minister Ehsaan Mazari expressed his views about the hybrid model, he suggested that if India demands to play Asia Cup at a neutral venue, Pakistan should also do the same.
"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.
"The committee will be headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and I am among the 11 ministers who are part of it. We will discuss the issue and give our recommendations to the PM, who is also the patron-in-chief of PCB. The PM will take the final decision," Mazari said.
He also accused India of meddling sports into politics 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 further said that security reasons are just an excuse for India not travelling to Pakistan, as New Zealand and England cricket teams have also travelled to Pakistan with presidential security.
"The New Zealand team was here, before that the England cricket team was in Pakistan. They got presidential security. Earlier, the Indian team was given a hearty welcome by the fans here. Security is an excuse. We also held the Pakistan Super League (PSL) that had so many foreign players," Mazari said.