KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is apparently not interested in playing an ICC World Cup warm-up match against Afghanistan, sources told JEE News on Wednesday.
According to sources, PCB is keen to field a non-Asian team during the warm-up match as they will face Afghanistan during the Asia Cup before the World Cup.
PCB has also written a note to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in this regard.
Earlier, the PCB had also requested the ICC to change the venue of their matches against Australia and Afghanistan during this year’s World Cup in India.
According to a report by JEE News, Pakistan has asked the ICC to change the venues of the said matches as it would make them “favourites”. As per the tentative schedule, they are playing against Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai.
“Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai are the two we should try to replace as much as possible,” an internal PCB note said. “Ideally, we can switch them. Australia in Chennai and Afghanistan in Bengaluru will make us clear favorites in both matches.”
The PCB wants to change the venue of all but three of Pakistan’s matches, including the match against India on October 15.
“India in Ahmedabad will be beneficial for them, but I doubt what this venue means for the BCCI and what this match means for the World Cup.”
“Lucknow will also be a good ground for us given the overall numbers there. Delhi will also be good for us against most teams. If there is a third change, we can move it to Lucknow or Chennai for the England match.” “
The report added that the official schedule of the ICC Cricket World Cup could be announced on June 27, which would be 100 days ahead of the scheduled start on October 5.
Pakistan’s tentative World Cup schedule
October 6 – Qualifier at Hyderabad Vs
October 12 – Qualifier at Hyderabad Vs
October 15 – India Vs at Ahmedabad
October 20 – vs Australia at Bangalore
October 23 – Afghanistan vs. Chennai
October 27 – vs South Africa at Chennai
October 31 – Bangladesh vs Kolkata
November 5 – New Zealand vs Bengaluru
November 12 – vs England in Kolkata
