Govt to decide whether Pakistan plays in India or not: Sethi

Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) Management Committee Najam Sethi on Monday said that Pakistan wishes to play cricket in India, but a final decision in this regard would be taken by the government.

The rival teams have not visited their neighbouring country for several years, with Pakistan last travelling to India for the T20 World Cup in 2016, and India not playing in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. 

Sethi's comments come as Pakistan are due to host the Asia Cup for the first time in 15 years in 2023, while India is scheduled to host the ICC Cricket World Cup during October and November next year.

"The government will decide whether we play in India or not as the BCCI also follows its government's instructions," Sethi told reporters at Karachi's National Stadium. He maintained that if India does not tour Pakistan, then the Pakistani team would not visit the neighbouring country either.

The PCB chief said that PCB wanted to organise Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Quetta. However, he said the local administration will have the final say.

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Speaking about the team's captaincy, he said that the committee will take a final decision in this regard but added that no one would be sacked for the sake of it.

"Pakistan cricket team is nothing without Babar Azam... he is our star, but the committee takes the decisions [about captaincy], not me."

'Ramiz has a grudge against me'

ethi said that former PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja was "unsuitable" for the position, adding that the former Test captain had a grudge against him.

"Ramiz will never be stopped from speaking. He is free to comment, but it is known that he has a grudge against me," he said.

"The main objective of the interim committee is to restore the 2014 constitution. As soon as that is done, the elections will be held within four months as per the instructions of the prime minister," he added.

The PCB chief said that the board would encourage departments to sponsor regional teams rather than them having their own teams.

He said that the board would review projects initiated by the previous regime, including the Pakistan Junior League. However, he added PCB will continue to encourage women's cricket.