Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has taken a dig at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their recent issue to travel to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Akram has said that the PCB chiefs should not make any bold statements if they cannot stay true to their words. He said this after the International Cricket Council released the 50-over World Cup fixtures on Tuesday (June 27). And, as per the schedule, Pakistan will play across seven venues in India where they will begin their campaign against Qualifier 1 in Hyderabad on October 6 as well.
Speaking to paktv.tv, Akram said: “I am all for egos. If you have an ego and you understand that if there’s something wrong, raise your voice. But again, move on.”They are back to where they began. So, always plan, and think about whether we can do it. If you can’t do it, then don’t do it. It leads to mockery. It’s only a game. Let the government discuss it, that’s their problem. We will play in India if India plays in Pakistan. But if India doesn’t play in Pakistan, why should we play in India?”
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Former PCB chief Ramiz Raja had earlier stated that India will have to host the ICC event without Pakistan if they don’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. Notably, Pakistan will host four games of the 2023 Asia Cup, excluding India, whereas the remaining games will be played in Sri Lanka, starting August 31.
“If Pakistan doesn’t take part in the World Cup scheduled in India next year, who will watch it? We have a clear stand. If the Indian team comes here, then we will go. If they don’t come, they can play the World Cup without us.”
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Wasim Akram also added: “There are no issues. What’s the matter? Pakistan should play where the games are scheduled to take place, that’s it? Unnecessary stress and things that we won’t play in Ahmedabad. Ask Pakistan players; they don’t care. They will play wherever the schedule will come. If they (government) give the go-ahead (for World Cup in India), then the discussions will be about the venues. Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad… You remember what happened in 2016. Then the security team went to India to check the venues; one match was shifted from Dharamsala to Kolkata, and then we went there and participated.”
