Pakistan's World Cup participation in doubt amidst neutral venue dispute

Pakistan's involvement in the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup in India has been thrown into uncertainty. The Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Ehsaan Mazari, has issued a stern warning to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Mazari argues that Pakistan has the right to request a neutral venue for the World Cup, citing the hybrid model adopted for the Asia Cup 2023.

The Asia Cup 2023 will be played under a hybrid model, after India refused to travel to Pakistan. While Pakistan and Sri Lanka will co-host the tournament, India's matches will be played in Sri Lanka, with only four matches scheduled for Pakistani venues.

Mazari strongly criticized the concept of a neutral venue for India and demanded a similar arrangement for Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in India later this year.

“My personal opinion, since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) comes under my ministry, is that if India demands to play their Asia Cup games at a neutral venue, we would also demand the same for our World Cup games in India. Pakistan is the host, it has the right to hold all the matches in Pakistan. That is what the cricket lovers want, I don’t want a hybrid model," Mazari told The Indian Express.

It is important to note that Mazari is a member of the prominent committee established by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to deliberate on Pakistan's participation in the World Cup hosted by India.

 Mazari revealed that the committee will present its recommendations to the Prime Minister, who will make the final decision.

"The committee will be led by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and I am one of the 11 ministers on the committee. We will discuss the matter and provide our recommendations to the Prime Minister, who is also the patron-in-chief of the PCB. The Prime Minister will ultimately make the final decision," Mazari stated.

The committee, headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, includes federal ministers Rana Sanaullah, Azam Tarar, Ehsaan Mazari, Maryam Aurangzeb, Asad Mahmood, Amin ul Haq, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and Tariq Fatemi.

The ODI World Cup is scheduled to commence in India on October 5th, with the Pakistan-India match set to take place in Ahmedabad on October 15th.