The decision to send the Pakistan team to the ODI World Cup in India next year will be taken at the government level, said the new president of the Pakistan Cricket Council, Najam Sethi.
Speaking in reference to the threat from his predecessor, Ramiz Raja, that Pakistan will consider withdrawing from the mega event if India does not come to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, Sethi said on Monday that “if the government says not to “. If we don’t go to India, we won’t go”.
“Let us be clear about the cricket relations between Pakistan and India. (The) decisions about whether to play a tour or not are always made at the government level,” Sethi told a news conference in Karachi.
“These are decisions that are only made at the government level; the printed circuit board can only seek clarity.” Sethi added that he will be reaching out to the Asian Cricket Council on the issue of the Asia Cup, which will be held in Pakistan next year.
“I will see what the situation is and then move on. With every decision we make, we have to make sure we don’t become isolated.” Sethi also said that he or the PCB would not object if Raja decided to return to the comment box.
“I have a lot of respect for Ramiz and we would never be against him returning to the commentary box.” Sethi also polluted the accounts of his expenses posted on his website by the previous PCB management, saying they were incorrect.
“When I go back to Lahore, the first thing I will do is put the actual position in front of the public. The numbers given about me in regards to spending are not accurate at all,” said Sethi.
Sethi also defended current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to sack Raja as PCB chairman.
“I was chairman in 2018. When Imran Khan’s government was formed, I resigned, although some people in (the) power corridors told me that no one would remove me. I have always believed that (the) Prime Minister has the right to choose his candidate to run cricket affairs, so I resigned.” Sethi also said that he was in touch with former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur because he wanted him back have.
“Mickey is currently under contract with Derbyshire and I have spoken to him. The situation will become clear in the next 8-10 days and we have taken his advice on the new coaching line-up for the team.
“When he (Arthur) was on the team, he did a lot of good work and was responsible for pushing Babar Azam forward. He also kept a lot of discipline and fitness in the team. I think he will be good for the team again if he is available.”