Pakistan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in its June 27 letter addressed to the Sharif, bypassing all the laid down protocols, has sought the federal government’s clearance before giving the green light to the organisers for the national team’s participation in the ODI World Cup.

Iqbal’s decision to abruptly end his 16-year international career comes just three months before Bangladesh play in the ODI World Cup, to be held in India from October 5 to November 19. "This is the end for me. I have given my best. I have tried my best. I am retiring from international cricket from this moment. Yesterday against Afghanistan was my last international game."

"Today, I am telling you that I made Imran Khan the prime minister," Miandad said during an interview on a private television channel, Geo News reported. Badami then asked the former cricketer - who became Pakistan's captain at a young age of 22 - how was he responsible for Khan becoming the prime minister.

The finalists from the last edition in Australia will play games in Leeds (May 22), Birmingham (May 25), Cardiff (May 28) and London (Oval, May 30) before flying out for the marquee ICC event. Notably, England had defeated Pakistan by five wickets with one over to spare in the T20 World Cup 2022 final in Melbourne. Prior to the Australia event, Pakistan had hosted England for a seven-match T20I series in Karachi and Lahore with the visitors winning by 4-3.

A special team has been constituted under the aegis of PCB, Interior Ministry, and Foreign Ministry to travel to India and inspect the venues for Pakistan’s scheduled matches in the World Cup. The team is expected to visit Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. 

International Cricket Council (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. 

During a media interaction on Wednesday, the 70-year old, who is the chairman-designate of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), expressed his desire to review the decision of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and holding the tournament entirely in Pakistan. "According to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the tournament should be held entirely in Pakistan. But major matches are played elsewhere, and only minor teams like Nepal play in Pakistan.

In the men's section, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has been nominated alongside Bangladesh batter Najmul Hossain Shanto and Ireland's middle-order batter Harry Tector. The Pakistan skipper and holder of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy is nominated for his performances at the latter end of his side's series 4-1 victory over New Zealand.

This was the fourth clash between the two teams in the final of the Junior Asia Cup and the second successive after the Indians defeated Pakistan 6-2 in Kuantan, Malaysia to win the title in 2015. The event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. Both India and Pakistan have won the title thrice each since the event was started in 1988.

Last year, BCCI secretary and ACC chairman Jay Shah had made it clear that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the Continental championship and demanded that the event be moved to a neutral venue. Pakistan, on the other hand, has even threatened to boycott the ODI World Cup, which will be played in India in October-November.