Pakistan have got nothing against the 2021 T20 World Cup being held in India: Ehsan Mani

Ehsan Mani, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that the Pakistan players and other support staff are yet to get confirmation of visas for the 2021 T20 World Cup in India. He stated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was supposed to confirm the same by December 31, 2020, but after two months, the Indian board is yet to send a communication.

Mani stated that the BCCI asked for more time after Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, had to be admitted to the hospital two times. The veteran was also clear-cut in saying that the PCB has got nothing against the 2021 World Cup being held in India.

Ehsan Mani opens up

“Well, the BCCI was supposed to come up with a clear confirmation by December 31. Let me make it very clear that we have got nothing against the event being held in India, but we have to be absolutely sure that our players, support staff, fans, and the media should get the necessary visas,” Mani said in an interview with Gulf News.

Mani also spoke about PCB’s plans surrounding the revenue model in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). For the same, he put forth the steps implemented by the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“As you have seen in IPL (Indian Premier League), they didn’t make too much money in the initial years. Last year, two of our franchises broke even and this year, two more will do. By next year, we expect that all six teams should start breaking even,” he stated.

Anyone who wants to play us has to play in Pakistan

Mani also updated on where the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup is set to be held. “We swapped the 2020 Asia Cup, which was supposed to be held in Sri Lanka, to 2021 in June because of the pandemic situation last year. However, it’s going to clash with the World Test Championship and hence it will now be held in 2023,” Mani said.

Mani, also a former president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), was clear cut in saying that Pakistan would be hosting matches in their nation itself and not in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“No, we are capable of holding all our home matches in Pakistan. Anyone who wants to play us has to play in Pakistan. The only time I would consider holding something there (in the UAE) is if there are any Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events like the Asia Cup,” he added.

In the last 14 months or so, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and South Africa have toured Pakistan for bilateral series. The entire 2020 PSL took place in Pakistan and the same is the case for the 2021 edition as well.