NEW DELHI: ICC chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice are scheduled to meet with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi at the PCB headquarters in Lahore to discuss the issues surrounding Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, set to begin on October 5.
During the meeting, Barclay, Allardice, and Sethi will also be joined by PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Barrister Salman Naseer and other senior board officials. The purpose of the meeting is to gain clarity on the situation and find a resolution to the ongoing deadlock.
The PCB has maintained its stance that if India does not tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup, they will demand that their matches be played in Bangladesh instead. However, both the ICC Chairman and CEO are keen to find a solution that avoids an India versus Pakistan match being held in Dhaka, as it would have negative implications not only for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) but also for the global cricketing body.
According to a PCB insider, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal have all expressed their willingness to play a few matches in Pakistan, with the remaining matches of the event to be held in Sri Lanka in September.
While Allardice has visited Lahore frequently since assuming his role in the ICC, Barclay’s visit to Pakistan will be his first. It is noteworthy that Barclay will be the first ICC Chairman to tour Pakistan since ICC President Ray Mali’s visit in 2008. This will also mark the first time since October 2004 that both the top two ICC officials will visit the PCB headquarters, indicating the significance of the discussions at hand.
(With inputs from PTI)
During the meeting, Barclay, Allardice, and Sethi will also be joined by PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Barrister Salman Naseer and other senior board officials. The purpose of the meeting is to gain clarity on the situation and find a resolution to the ongoing deadlock.
The PCB has maintained its stance that if India does not tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup, they will demand that their matches be played in Bangladesh instead. However, both the ICC Chairman and CEO are keen to find a solution that avoids an India versus Pakistan match being held in Dhaka, as it would have negative implications not only for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) but also for the global cricketing body.
According to a PCB insider, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal have all expressed their willingness to play a few matches in Pakistan, with the remaining matches of the event to be held in Sri Lanka in September.
While Allardice has visited Lahore frequently since assuming his role in the ICC, Barclay’s visit to Pakistan will be his first. It is noteworthy that Barclay will be the first ICC Chairman to tour Pakistan since ICC President Ray Mali’s visit in 2008. This will also mark the first time since October 2004 that both the top two ICC officials will visit the PCB headquarters, indicating the significance of the discussions at hand.
(With inputs from PTI)
