The ball is in Ramiz Raja’s court now: travel to India and play in the 2023 ODI World Cup, or face severe sanctions from the ICC that could also include Pakistan being suspended from international cricket.
There has been a huge furor in the PCB, led by chairman Ramiz Raja, following BCCI Secretary Jay Shah’s announcement that not only Team India will not be traveling to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup, but also the tournament will be moved out of Pakistan and shifted to a neutral venue.
Ramiz Raja has, in clear terms, reacted to Jay Shah’s declaration by threatening to boycott the 2023 ODI World Cup slated to be played in October-November in India.
“If Pakistan doesn’t take part in the World Cup scheduled in India next year, who will watch it? We have a clear stand: If the Indian team comes here then we will go for the World Cup. If they don’t come then they can play the World Cup without us. We will adopt an aggressive approach,” the PCB chief said last month.
“Our team is showing performance. I’ve always said we need to improve the economy of Pakistan cricket, and that can only happen when we perform well. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, we beat India. We beat India in the T20 Asia Cup. In one year, the Pakistan cricket team defeated a billion-dollar economy team twice.”
Will ICC suspend Pakistan’s team if they don’t participate in the 2023 World Cup in India?
Yes, there is a possibility that the Pakistan cricket team can be suspended for a period of time if they refuse and don’t participate in the 2023 WC in India, even if they are given government clearances from both countries.
The constitution of the ICC says that strong measures should be taken against a Member if it is in breach of its contractual obligations. And participating in a World Cup, a global ICC event, is an obligation of a Member.
“Without prejudice to Article 2.11(A)(i), the Board of Directors may suspend the membership of a Member with immediate effect where, in the opinion of the Board of Directors (in its absolute discretion), the Member is in serious breach of any of its obligations as a Member,” Clause 2.10 (Page 15) of ICC Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association states.
“Whether or not a Member can be suspended will, sure, depend on multiple factors, like Government permission and security, etc. and the matter may also go to an independent arbitration panel,” a report in Cricbuzz said.
Apart from the Pakistan team facing potential suspension, the PCB as a cricket board will also lose a large amount of money, their share from the ICC, if they don’t play in the 2023 WC.
Ramiz Raja’s remarks and threats were responded to by Anurag Thakur, India’s Sports Minister, a former president of the BCCI, and a former director of the ICC.
“Wait for the right time. India is a major power in the world of sports and no country can overlook India,” Thakur said.
Pakistan are also set to host the 2025 Champions Trophy. Now, all the above-mentioned points will also apply to the BCCI if they don’t send their team to Pakistan in 2025.
