Ball in govt’s court over Pakistan’s World Cup participation
The officials of PCB held a crucial meeting with ICC's top brass
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Greg Barclay and Chief Executive Geoff Allardice that the country’s participation in the World Cup in India later this year was dependent on the government’s permission.
The officials of PCB held a crucial meeting with top officials from the ICC, who arrived in Lahore for a two-day visit on Tuesday. They were received by Najam Sethi, who is the chairman of the PCB Management Committee.
It has been learnt that the PCB made it clear that it would follow the directives of the Pakistani government regarding the World Cup if the Indian team did not visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup.
While the meeting addressed the PCB's share in ICC revenue and matters concerning the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), an agreement was not reached. As a result, negotiations between the PCB and ICC officials are set to continue for another day before the ICC officials leave.
According to ESPNcricinfo, if the proposed revenue model is approved, India’s new revenue share would stand at 38.5 percent, while England and Australia would bag 6.89 and 6.25 percent respectively. Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to earn 5.75 percent of the ICC's projected earnings, which will come primarily through ICC’s $3 billion media rights deal for 2024-27. It will be voted on at ICC’s next board meeting in July in Durban.
While Allardice has regularly visited Pakistan, first as ICC General Manager – Cricket and then as ICC Chief Executive, this will be Barclay’s first visit to Pakistan.
Barclay will be the first ICC Chairman to tour Pakistan since ICC President Ray Mali’s visit in 2008. This will also be the first time since October 2004 when both the top two ICC officials will together visit the Pakistan cricket headquarters.
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