ISLAMABAD
\nPakistan Cricket Board\u2019s interim Management Committee chairman Najam Sethi confirmed on Thursday the possibility of the national side playing their 2023 ICC Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup matches at a neutral venue instead of host country India was well on the cards.
\nIt was the first time Sethi openly mentioned the \u201chybrid model\u201d in the presence of media, turning what has been mere speculation so far into the official narrative of the PCB.
\nMedia had reported earlier that the \u201chybrid model\u201d was under consideration for the Asia Cup (which Pakistan are set to host in September) with India to play their matches at a neutral venue.
\nHowever, during negotiations with the Asian Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India earlier this month, the PCB leadership had made it clear that it would expect the model to be replicated come the World Cup in India in September.
\nSethi had discussed the matter with top ICC officials in the body\u2019s Board meetings last week and according to sources close to the PCB, the proposal received an \u201cencouraging response\u201d.
\nWhile addressing reporters here outside the Parliament House after the Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) meeting, Sethi reiterated the stance, confirming his talks with the ICC and ACC.
\nThe PCB chief claimed that despite \u201cresistance\u201d he was able to convince the ICC officials that the \u201chybrid model\u201d was the way forward, especially with the matter to arise again when Pakistan host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
\n\u201cAlthough we did not talk about such things, but yes, anybody can trigger debate for not playing World Cup matches in India and if the Pakistani government will ask us not to play in India, then we will have to look towards the hybrid model,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cIf India do not come here to play Asia Cup matches, the Pakistan public could ask the PCB why Pakistan is playing in India.\u201d
\nDespite being awarded the hosting rights of the Asia Cup, the PCB was shocked by comments from the ACC president Jay Shah (who is also the BCCI secretary) who unilaterally announced in October last year that India wouldn\u2019t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.
\nThe PCB (led by Ramiz Raja back then) had reacted to Shah\u2019s statements with a strong stance, going as far as threatening of withdrawing from the World Cup.
\nSethi (who took office in January this year) meanwhile, had adopted a more diplomatic approach, which saw him call an emergency meeting of the ACC earlier this month, which saw the idea of the \u201chybrid model\u201d emerge.
\nThe 74-year-old administrator then presented the idea to the ICC in what online understands was an informal conversation with ICC high-ups including the body\u2019s president Greg Barclay and chief executive Geoff Allardice.
\nWhile the ACC is expected to adopt the hybrid model, it is yet to make a final decision.
\nDuring the media talk, the PCB chief backed the new-look Pakistan side that lost their three-match Twenty20 International series against Afghanistan 2-1.
\nPakistan went into the series without five of their top players in captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf with all-rounder Shadab Khan leading a squad of a number of young and inexperienced players.
\nAfter getting beaten in the first two matches, Pakistan\u2019s consolation win saw youngsters Saim Ayub and Ihsanullah shine with impactful performances.
\nSethi said the series was meant to test new talent for Pakistan and PCB deliberately sent junior players.
\n\u201cIt was not a debacle,\u201d he said, adding that Pakistan identified two \u201cshining stars\u201d from the series.
\nEarlier, the standing committee on IPC, headed by Nawab Sher, applauded the PCB management for successfully organizing the HBL Pakistan Super League\u2019s eighth season. The committee was informed that the PCB paid Rs.2 billion tax to the Government of Pakistan.
\nDuring the meeting, a PCB official briefed the committee that the board was making efforts to revive domestic and international cricket in the country.
\nSethi added that PCB\u2019s next goal was to revive women\u2019s cricket through the Women\u2019s League, for which a budget of Rs.7 billion was allocated. The committee was also briefed regarding the rehabilitation\/revival of Hyderabad\u2019s Niaz Stadium.
\nA PCB representative said that the stadium was under the city\u2019s civil administration without any prior notice. He said the PCB management desires to take charge of the stadium. The committee directed the PCB to call a meeting with Hyderabad\u2019s district administration to resolve the issue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Pakistan Cricket Board\u2019s interim Management Committee chairman Najam Sethi confirmed on Thursday the possibility of the national side playing their 2023 ICC Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup matches at a neutral venue instead of host country India was well on the cards. It was the first time Sethi openly mentioned the \u201chybrid model\u201d in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":323154,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-323142","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n