ICC World Cup Schedule Forced PCB To Join Heads

Islamabad
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its schedule for the World Cup 2023 as it revealed the big clash between India and Pakistan on October 15 in Ahmedabad, pushing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) into emergency and urgent meetings to contemplate on its previous threats of boycotting the mega event if India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. As per the ICC schedule, a total of at least 48 matches will be played across 12 stadiums while the final will be held at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on October 19, 2023. ICC’s announcement comes at a time when ongoing speculations are rumored if Pakistan would be ready to travel to India for the tournament or not, especially after it recently threatened to boycott the event if India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. PCB’s interim chief Najam Sethi had agreed to a hybrid model for the Asia Cup with matches being held at neutral venues. However, the sitting PCB Chief Zaka Ashraf, in a recent statement had rejected the hybrid model of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) terming it as injustice. The first point is that I had rejected the hybrid model for the Asia Cup in the past itself because I do not agree with it. The Asian Cricket Council board had decided that the tournament should be held entirely in Pakistan, Zaka Ashraf had stated earlier. Ashraf’s statement was rejected by the ACC as it maintained that it was proposed by PCB and was agreed upon by the ACC, adding that there would be no changes made into the model any further.