When other teams are coming to Pakistan, why is India worried about the security? : Najam Sethi

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has questioned the BCCI, as to why it has concerns over sending its players to Pakistan for the forthcoming Asia Cup while other teams have no issues visiting the country.

Sethi, who is trying to make sure that the upcoming Asia Cup is played in Pakistan, said that it is time to 'take a clear position' and that he will take up the issue at the next Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and International Cricket Council (ICC) meetings.

"We have complex issues on hand but for me when I go to the ACC and ICC meetings, I have kept all options open for us and we have to take a clear position now," Sethi said at a press conference on Monday as quoted by India Today.

While the BCCI's decision of not sending a team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup has not changed, the PCB chairman is rigid that if the BCCI refuses to send a team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, they will have to think about not playing the ODI World Cup in India.

PCB chairman unhappy with BCCI's stance

"I have kept my options open because when all teams are coming to Pakistan and have no issues with security. Then why is India worried about security? In the same way, we can also have security concerns over sending our team to India for the World Cup and I will be bringing this to the table at the coming meetings," he stated. 

Sethi added that he wants Pakistan to host the Asia Cup and also reminded everyone that the country is also set to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

"Obviously we don't support this stance (by India) because we want to hold the Asia Cup and remember it is not just about the Asia Cup and World Cup it is also about the Champions Trophy in 2025 in Pakistan," Sethi added. Sethi also stated that he sought the Pakistan government's opinion on the issues before attending the meeting.

"I had sought advice from the government and the situation is that we have to go by what our patron-in-chief tells us to do. If he says go and play in World Cup even if India doesn't come for Asia Cup, what can we do? If he says don't go it is a similar situation for us," he stated.

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