Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) insists the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is giving a false and misleading impression about Pakistan players being ignored for the T20 games between the Asia XI and World XI.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) recently informed that BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has agreed to send five players to Bangladesh next year for the special two T20I games. They have also set a condition to not take any player for Pakistan and that’s why the Bangladesh board didn’t send any proposal to the PCB.
However, PCB have made it clear that the facts were twisted to mislead Pakistan cricket fans and followers. They have verbally and in writing informed to BCB that that they can’t send their players due to the hectic schedule.
“The T20Is between World XI and Asia XI were scheduled from March 16-20, while the HBL PSL 2020 is likely to end on March 22. Since dates of both the series couldn’t be changed, we offered our regrets to the BCB, both verbally and in writing, which they understood and accepted. It is unfortunate that the facts were twisted to mislead Pakistan cricket fans and followers,” a PCB spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, BCCI Joint Secretary Jayesh George told IANS on Thursday that such a scenario where both India and Pakistan players play in the Asia XI wouldn’t arise because the message is that there will be no Pakistan players invited.
“What we are aware of is that there will be no Pakistan players in the Asia XI. That is what the message is, so, there is no question of both countries coming together or picking one over the other. Sourav Ganguly will decide the five players who will be a part of the Asia XI.”
On the other hand, PCB chief Ehsan Mani had earlier taken a dig at the Indian government saying that the current security situation in India is worse than in Pakistan.
“We have proved Pakistan is safe, if someone isn’t coming then they should prove that it’s unsafe. At this time, India is a far greater security risk than Pakistan,” Mani said after Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka for a two-Test series which the Azhar Ali-led side won 1-0,” he said.
