If India doesn’t tour Pakistan, then we can also easily say that we won’t tour India: Najam Sethi

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Najam Sethi passed a straightforward remark on touring India for the forthcoming ODI World Cup in October. The chairman of the apex board further expressed concerns over the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy which is slated to be held in Pakistan in 2025.

It is no secret that the two cricket boards- the BCCI and the PCB have been at odds over the hosting rights of the Asia Cup 2023. With the ongoing tension between the boards, Sethi made a blunt remark stating that the Men in Green would not travel to the neighbouring nation for the mega ODI event if India does not tour Pakistan.

“I'm also concerned about the World Cup and Champions Trophy apart from the Asia Cup. India can refuse to come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy as well and ask to change the venue for the event. If India doesn’t tour Pakistan, then we can also easily say that we won’t tour India,” Sethi was quoted as saying by The News.

Presented the hybrid model for positive solution: Najam Sethi

Notably, after BCCI secretary Jay Shah outrightly refused to send the Indian contingent for the Asia Cup to Pakistan, PCB began working on a ‘hybrid model’ in order to host the ACC event in Pakistan but have India’s fixtures on a neutral venue. Sethi also added that the ACC acknowledges the hybrid model is a better approach to address the matter.

“We presented the hybrid model in order to find a positive solution for this problem. The ACC also believes that it is a better approach to address this matter,” he added.

However, as per reports, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) too have backed the notion of moving out the Asia Cup to a neutral venue. While the ACC is yet to release an official notice on the regard, it remains to be seen what transpires.