Daily Times

DUBAI – Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan has revealed that Pakistan’s possible withdrawal from the ICC World T20 in India was a matter discussed in detail during the recently concluded International Cricket Council conference in Dubai.

Shahryar Khan said that a proposal has been issued to the ICC demanding the men in green receiving neutral venues for their ties, in case their government disallows their trip to enemy territory in India scheduled for next month. He also revealed that he himself raised the point during the meeting and enlightened the whole conference of the idea that the Pakistan government might not eventually allow their boys to travel to India for the 6th edition of the World T20.

He added that he made it perfectly clear at the conference that the 2009 Champions will only take part in the mega spectacle once they are given full clearance by their government.

– PCB seeks government stance on World T20 games in India –

The PCB chairman has hinted that the decision to play Pakistan’s World T20 matches at Indian venues will only be taken after consulting with the central government ESPNcricinfo reported. He said that if the federal government in Islamabad refuses to allow the team to travel to India for the tournament which starts on March 8, then the board will ask the ICC to shift Pakistan’s matches to a neutral venue.

“We have told the ICC the decision is with the government and it’s not just us who have to decide,” Shahryar told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. “We need to understand that there are specific Pakistan-oriented security threats and we are concerned, hence [we have] involved the government. These are not general threats, like Australia had in Bangladesh and they did not send their team for the Under-19 World Cup.

“We didn’t say or propose playing the World T20 matches at neutral venue but someone at the ICC meeting said that if there are concerns over any extremist activity [at Pakistan matches] then neutral venues will be looked into. Since it’s an ICC event and not a bilateral series we have to play it but if the decision [by the government] is negative then maybe the ICC could say that our matches be held in neutral venues in Sri Lanka or United Arab Emirates, and we will be ready for that.”

In October 2015, talks between the India and Pakistan boards for a proposed series in December were put on hold after protests from the Shiv Sena, a regional political party. Fifty party workers stormed the BCCI office in Mumbai, shouting anti-Pakistan slogans and demanding that the BCCI cancel the series. Following the protests, the ICC withdrew umpire Aleem Dar from the last two ODIs of the South Africa series [the fifth match was held in Mumbai] and former Pakistan cricketers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, who were in India on commentary duty, also returned home early.

– Pakistan’s World T20 matches may be staged at neutral venue –

Shaharyar Khan on Monday said that a proposal was given to play their World Twenty20 matches on neutral venues next month in the event that the government does not allow the team to tour India. India host the ICC World Twenty20 from March 8 to April 3 but Pakistan’s participation is subject to government clearance as there are specific threats, the PCB chairman said.