Tag: PCB

  • ‘We do not have much time to waste anymore’: Najam Sethi asks ACC to decide

    ‘We do not have much time to waste anymore’: Najam Sethi asks ACC to decide

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi has disclosed the crux of his recent meeting with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials and the official broadcaster of Asia Cup 2023.

    In BBC’s podcast ‘Stumped’, PCB Chairman Najam Sethi said that they had proposed a Hybrid Model a month ago to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in which India will play their matches outside Pakistan and the rest of the teams will play their matches in Pakistan. “If India and Pakistan will meet in the final, we will play it at the neutral venue,” he said.

    BCCI secretary and ACC Chairman Jay Shah rejected the proposal by raising questions about logistics.

    “We have made it clear to them that it is we who decide where India can play their matches. If Sri Lanka suits us, we will choose Sri Lanka, but most probably we are prioritizing Dubai. First they have to consider and accept Hybrid Model then further talks begin,” Najam Sethi elaborated.

    That sounds negotiable, the Podcast host said.

    The PCB Chairman then said that they have proposed a revised version of ‘hybrid model’ in the recent meeting held twos days ago with ACC officials, in which the first four matches will be played in Pakistan and then the whole tournament will be shifted to Dubai.

    The ACC then raised a question about the possiblity of travel between two countries with all the crew and equipment.
    Sethi clarified that the teams have to come Pakistan just once.

    The podcaster asked Sethi how long it will take to negotiate, to which he replied, “Look, we only have three months left and we have to prepare. We have to selects the venues, we have to do arrangements for broadcasters. ACC have already wasted too much time, time is running out. ACC have to take a decision now”

    Najam Sethi also said that the World Cup is coming up, and if India does not come to Pakistan, our government will not allow Pakistan to travel to India.

    “If they don’t, why would we? Security risks are on both side,” Sethi concluded.

  • ‘Pakistan hai, to hum hain’: Shaheen Afridi changes DP to picture with Imran Khan

    ‘Pakistan hai, to hum hain’: Shaheen Afridi changes DP to picture with Imran Khan

    Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Ex-Captain of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup victory Imran Khan got arrested on the May 9 from inside the Islamabad High Court.

    Soon after his arrest, protests broke out across the country, resulting in clashes between followers of his party and law-enforcement agencies.

    Along with being a politician, Imran Khan is also a former fast bowler, considered one of the greatest in the game.

    His inspiration on many fast bowlers is quite evident, with his exceptional pace and ability to swing the ball both ways.

    No second opinions, no disputes, and no doubts about the fact that Khan was one of the most prominent cricketers of his time.

    Cricket fraternity has come out in support of Imran Khan with Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s ace fast bowler, changing his Twitter profile picture to one in which he is sitting with Khan.

    “Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said,
    ‘Momino ki apas me aik dosre se mohabbat or hamdardi ki misaal aik jism ki tarah hai.
    Jab uska koi hissa takleef me hota hai, to sara jism us takleef ko mehsoos kerta hai.’
    Bus ye yad rakhna hai k Pakistan hai, to hum hain,” he wrote in a tweet.

  • India wants the whole Asia Cup tournament shifted to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka agrees

    India wants the whole Asia Cup tournament shifted to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka agrees

    Sri Lanka is now one of the strongest contenders to host Asia Cup 2023 as the recent meeting of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman with the Vice-President of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Pankhaj Khimji seems to have not gone as well as was expected.

    According to a report, PCB Chief Najam Sethi met with ACC officials on Tuesday, May 9, where it was decided that Pakistan would pull out of the tournament because their proposal of hosting it in the UAE was not accepted.

    Asia Cup is scheduled for September this year, but the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, who is also the President of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had threatened that the Indian government would not allow their team to travel to Pakistan because of security concerns.

    Regardless of the current political crisis in Pakistan, the country has just concluded a New Zealand series in peace. Yet Indian media and BCCI officials have based their decision to not send their team to Pakistan on security concerns.

    In the recent meeting with Jay Shah and ACC officials, Najam Sethi proposed a revised ‘Hybrid Model’ in which four teams Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh will play their matches in Pakistan and then all the teams along with Pakistan will move to Dubai to play the whole tournament.

    ACC officials straight away rejected the proposal by raising questions about logistics, asking how broadcasters will travel between the two countries with all the crew and equipment.

    Sethi reply was that they only had to travel to Pakistan only once and then will go to Dubai.

    ACC officials said that ahead of World Cup they cannot take the risk and that weather conditions are not suitable in Dubai for playing cricket.
    Sethi reportedly pointed out that the BCCI held IPL 2020 in Dubai and also in the same season.

    An ultimatum on the matter is expected by the end of this month. Should the decision go against Pakistan, the country’s status as a participant in the Cup would be up in the air, with a boycott being likely in that event.

  • Asia Cup 2023: Sri Lanka aligns with India to exclude Pakistan from Asia Cup?

    Asia Cup 2023: Sri Lanka aligns with India to exclude Pakistan from Asia Cup?

    Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in September 2023 but the event remains mired in doubts with India trying to derail the tournament. Pakistan has the official rights of hosting Asia Cup but Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not ready to send its cricket team to the host country.

    The world has witnessed that many international teams have visited Pakistan to play matches.

    A series with New Zealand was recently concluded, in which both teams played five T20I and five One-Day International (ODI) in the different cities of Pakistan but BCCI still has concerns.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi has presented a Hybrid Model in which India play their matches in Dubai, or more likely, in Sri Lanka.

    However, the BCCI has expressed dissatisfaction with this proposal. Currently, Sethi is in Dubai, where he met with ICC officials on Tuesday.

    He was scheduled to meet with Pankaj Khimji, Deputy President of the Asian Council, and cricket officials from the UAE to discuss the possibility of hosting India’s matches in the UAE under the ‘Hybrid Model.’

    The PCB is concerned that if the Asia Cup is not held now, the same issue may arise during the hosting of the Champions Trophy in 2025 and the ICC may decide to relocate the event if India does not participate.

    Therefore, under the proposed model, the Indian cricket team’s Champions Trophy matches will be held in Bangladesh. Currently, there is a tense stand-off between Pakistani and Indian officials, with India allegedly using its media to its advantage.

    The BCCI has also collaborated with Sri Lanka, convincing them to play two additional matches, as they have been eager to host the Asia Cup for some time now. In response, Pakistan has reminded Afghanistan that they recently played additional matches in Sharjah, and they stand with the PCB on this matter.

    While there are concerns about the heat in Dubai, efforts are being made to convince Bangladesh to cooperate, and they are reportedly willing to do so.

    PCB officials have publicly stated that “we have earned a substantial amount of money due to the PSL, and therefore, the Asia Cup’s cancellation would not be a significant concern for them.”

    In reality, the Pakistani authorities aim to avoid financial losses and prioritize preparations for the upcoming World Cup.

    Several news reports regarding the Asia Cup were circulating in the Indian media yesterday. One report claimed that “the members have rejected the PCB’s ‘Hybrid Model’ and moved the event from Pakistan.”

    However, an official representative from the PCB, who was in contact with an Indian Express representative, dismissed these reports as baseless and an attempt by the BCCI to increase pressure.

    He stated that the ACC has not officially denied accepting the ‘Hybrid Model’ proposed by the PCB, and discussions are still ongoing. The official further added that unverified news from unnamed sources is not credible.

  • World Cup 2023: Will Pakistan travel to India for the mega event?

    World Cup 2023: Will Pakistan travel to India for the mega event?

    As World Cup 2023 gets closer, cricketing fans wait for the joy of an India vs Pakistan clash.

    However, will Pakistan actually participate in the mega event? Speculations are rife that the country may skip the event. What has led to these rumors?

    The Indian government has said that they will not allow their team to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, leading to the assumption that the hardliner government will not allow the Pakistani team to play in India.

    The mega event of International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to take place in India, with broadcasters eyeing the potential of huge revenues from an India vs Pakistan match.

    However, will the Pakistan team get permission to travel to India in the light of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s recent statement given during a trip to India?

    “Sports should be kept separated from politics and foreign policy,” the FM had stated during his visit to attend the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.

    Earlier reports had claimed that Pakistan will play its World Cup matches in Ahmedabad in Narendra Modi stadium in Gujrat.

    “Pakistan may not agree to play against India at Narendra Modi Stadium due to certain reasons,” a source has disclosed, without discussing further details on the matter before the announcement of the official schedule.

    It must be noted here that International Cricket Council (ICC) hasn’t announced the schedule for the World Cup so far. The mega event will take place in October-November this year in India.

    A reliable source in PCB has also denied reports regarding their demand from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to give them a guarantee in writing that if Pakistan goes to India for ICC World Cup, then they will come here for ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.

  • Asia Cup in Pakistan or not: Next 48 hours crucial

    Asia Cup in Pakistan or not: Next 48 hours crucial

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi is in Dubai for a crucial meeting with Jay Shah, the President of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and also secretary for Board of Control for cricket in India (BCCI).

    Jay Shah has continuously threatened PCB that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023 and force Pakistan to step back from hosting the tournament.

    Pakistan has declared its stance loudly and clearly for everyone that if Pakistan is forced to back off from hosting Asia Cup, warning that if anyone tries to take away Pakistan’s rights, the country will boycott Asia Cup and will also not travel to India for the upcoming World Cup.

    Najam Sethi also proposed a hybrid model for India, suggesting that they can play their matches at another venue but it’s Pakistan’s right as host to decide where those matches will be played.

    Star Sports’ owner is also attending the meeting.

    It is clear that no other team will give the kind of revenue an India Vs Pakistan match can produce. Star Sports has a contract with ACC from 2016 to 2023 under which they paid 50 million USD.

    Indian Media has reported that BCCI is planning to organized its own five nation Asia Cup in which they will exclude Pakistan but broadcasters are not ready for this.

    Earlier Indian media ran fake news that Asia Cup has been shifted to Sri lanka but Sri Lankan media denied Indian media reports.

  • Asia Cup: Sri Lanka denies Indian media reports of hosting tournament

    Asia Cup: Sri Lanka denies Indian media reports of hosting tournament

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi left for Dubai on Tuesday for a crucial meeting with Asia Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Jay Shah.

    Media reports have stated that the owner of Star Sports will also attend the meeting.

    Ahead of the meeting Indian media ran false reports that Sri Lanka is set to host Asia Cup 2023 after the tournament is shifted from Pakistan.

    However, Sri Lankan media has rubbished the news and said that the Board of the island nation have stated that there has been no official announcement by ACC on the matter.

    Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has locked horns with PCB over the matter, threating to form their own five nation version of the tournament, excluding Pakistan, and influencing other teams not to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023.

    On the other hand, PCB had indicated that they would boycott the event if it would be held outside Pakistan.

    Pakistan has suggested a hybrid model, in which Pakistan will host all other matches of Asia Cup but India will play at a neutral venue. However, Indian media have reported that broadcasters were not satisfied with the offer.

  • Video: It used to annoy me but now I enjoy it: Iftikhar Ahmed on being called ‘Chachu’

    Video: It used to annoy me but now I enjoy it: Iftikhar Ahmed on being called ‘Chachu’

    Ifitikhar Ahmed is Pakistan’s most reliable middle order batter, and the frequent target of a chant that fans have tailored just for him.

    The batsman was recently asked by a journalist what he felt when fans chant ‘chachu chachu’ (uncle) on the field.

    He answered the question in a very sweet manner, stating:

    “See, first I used to get annoyed when people chant chachu chachu about me but I am now enjoying it. It is not a bad thing, it is not an abusive chant, it is a good thing for me.

    When Shahid Afridi steps into the ground, the crowd immediately stands up and chants boom boom and now they chant chachu chachu, so I really enjoy it.”

    Iftikhar Ahmed also said that wherever he goes to play, the crowd supports him. “Be happy and let me be happy,” he added.
    Ifitkhar Ahmed scored a crucial fifty on the finisher of One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand, proving himself as a reliable middle order batter.

    Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, during the post-match press conference, also mentioned feeling embarrassed that Iftikhar is known as ‘Chahcha’ because of his jokes.

    However, despite this feeling, he is happy that people enjoy it.

    Babar also praised Iftikhar’s abilities and acknowledged that he has been playing great cricket for the past few months.

    “Sometimes, I feel embarrassed that due to me Iftikhar is now known as ‘Chacha’ but I am happy that people enjoy it. He gave some brilliant performances in T20 cricket and today he took the game deep alone but unfortunately, he didn’t get support from the other end.

    “That is why we gave him a chance in ODIs because he has been playing great cricket for the last five-six months and we were struggling on those numbers so we are getting a lot of help from Iftikhar and Salman Ali Agha,” Babar said.

  • Babar Azam opens up on teammates’ blunt and angry statements

    Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has cleared his stance on the comments and tweet made by his teammates, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam ul Haq, during the recently completed five-match ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand, which has been won by the Pakistan 4-1.

    In the post-match press conference after the fifth ODI in Karachi, Babar shared his opinion on his teammates’ statements and clarified the team’s stance on the matter.

    Prior to the third One-Day against New Zealand, wicket keeper Muhammad Rizwan showed concerns on batting at number 5, stating, “Personally I am not happy with this position.

    I want to play at number 4, that is completely my wish I am not demanding neither I am imposing my wish on any anyone. I can perform better in the number 4 position that’s totally my thinking.” He concluded.

    The Pakistan captain, however, took a more measured approach to the situation and said that Rizwan shared his wish to bat up in the order but also emphasized that the players were well aware of the team’s requirements and priorities.

    “Rizwan said it’s my wish to play at four but we will have to keep the team’s requirement in mind and that’s how we will communicate with the players. This is a team where no player says I want to play at this specific number,” Babar said.

    “Everyone is playing for Pakistan and Rizwan has performed at both batting positions. Every player is striving for the team’s win and Rizwan is one of the best players…he has won us many games,” he added.

    On the other hand, Imam posted a cryptic tweet on Sunday morning, which garnered a lot of attention from fans, who thought that the opener is disappointed after being dropped in the fourth and fifth ODI match against the Kiwis.

    Babar said that the level of unity within the team was good and they have a culture of resolving any internal conflicts within the team itself, rather than taking them public.

    “I haven’t checked my mobile and don’t know what Imam has tweeted. There are no disgruntled players in our team and the unity is good. We try to resolve our matters within ourselves and not take them out,” Babar replied to a question about Imam’s aforementioned tweet.

    “We are like a family and our trust level is very good. I don’t think Imam’s tweet would be related to him being excluded from final two ODIs,” he added.

  • Modi influence: BJP leader Amit Shah forces son Jay Shah to exclude Pakistan from Asia Cup

    Modi influence: BJP leader Amit Shah forces son Jay Shah to exclude Pakistan from Asia Cup

    The controversy surrounding the upcoming Asia Cup has taken yet another bad turn as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders intervene into the stand-off between Pakistan and India.

    Sources are saying that Asia Cup will be canceled and India is planning instead to play a five- nation Asian cricket cup in India excluding Pakistan.

    Media speculations are rife that BJP leader Amit Shah has influenced his son Jay Shah, who is the president of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and also the secretary of Board of control for cricket in India (BCCI), to exclude Pakistan from Asia Cup 2023.

    The same, as yet unconfirmed, reports have said that Amit Shah is also forcing his son not to send the Indian team to Pakistan. Reportedly, these decisions were debated overnight at the behest of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Pakistan is likely to boycott World Cup 2023 if India axes Asia Cup 2023, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi stating loud and clear that we will not back off from hosting the tournament as no team has security concerns. “We have hosted many international teams, so it’s clear that there is no security threats in Pakistan for Indian team.

    If India will not want to play their matches in Pakistan we will provide them hybrid model but it’s we who decide where Indian Team will play, not them, because we are the host,” he said.

    Asia Cup without Pakistan will not be the same because the revenue India and Pakistan matches produce is unmatchable.