Amid political tensions, Pakistan Sports Minister Ehsaan Mazari has said that if India is not travelling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, his country will withdraw from the 2023 World Cup in India.
His statement come a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif formed a high-level committee to decide on the team's participation in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
"My personal opinion, since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) comes under my ministry, is that if India demands to play their Asia Cup games at a neutral venue, we would also demand the same for our World Cup games in India." Mazari told The Indian Express.
Pakistan PM Sharif, who is also the patron-in-chief of the PCB said that the committee will explore and discuss all aspects of keeping the sports and policy apart when it comes to Pakistan and India relations.
The committee, headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, after discussions will give the recommendations to the PM , who will take the final decision, said Mazari.
The World Cup game between India and Pakistan will be staged in Ahmedabad on October 15.
The team is also scheduled to play in Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata.
The two cricket boards, BCCI and PCB have been in an intense collision over the venue of Asia Cup. Initially, the Asia Cup was scheduled to be held in Pakistan. Later, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) proposed a hybrid model by which the tournament will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. However, India is hoping to play all the matches in Sri Lanka.
"Pakistan is the host, it has the right to hold all the matches in Pakistan. That is what the cricket lovers want, I dont want a hybrid model," he said.
He also shared his puzzle of India bringing sports into politics. “I don't understand why the Indian government doesn't want to send their cricket team here...Pakistan's football, hockey and chess teams also travel to India," said the minister.