Pak vs NZ: Gate money from fifth T20I to be donated to Turkey quake victims
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Com-mittee Chairman Najam Sethi has called on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to make the first move on the road to normalisation by crossing over the border to play Asia Cup in Pakistan.
Sethi said that they have been told to allow or-ganising Asia Cup at a neutral venue; however, visit India to play the World Cup.
“Our contention is that India should make the first move and come over to Pakistan to play the Asia Cup,” he said assuring that Men in Green will defi-nitely go to India once the normalisation starts.
Sethi’s remarks came in response to a question regarding Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s forthcoming visit to India to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s meeting scheduled in Goa May 4-5.
It should be noted that soured political relations between Pakistan and India have complicated matters and cricket finds itself caught in the geopolitical crossfire between the feuding neighbours, who play each other only in multi-team events.
The deadlock is still there between the two countries with several options coming up to save the Asian and world events. A hybrid model for Asia Cup has already been discussed on the sidelines of an ICC meeting last month.
India are expected to play their matches during Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue. UAE or Oman could be the venue for India to participate in the Asian event.
The gate money from the fifth and final T20 in-ternational (T20I) between Pakistan and New Zea-land will be donated to the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.
The match will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on April 24.
The border region of Turkey and Syria was rocked by one of the deadliest earthquakes on Feb-ruary 6 that claimed thousands of lives and destroyed essential infrastructure, including healthcare facilities.
In a statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it will play a part in raising donations for mil-lions of people affected on either side of the border by joining hands with the Punjab government.
“The Pakistan side will wear commemorative caps to convey Pakistan’s everlasting solidarity to the two nations going through this difficult moment,” the statement mentioned.
The PCB said fans who cannot attend the match are “encouraged to make their donations for the cause”. They can send their donations to the following address:
Bank name: Bank of Pakistan Account title: Pakistan Cricket Board Account number: 2081003169856007
IBAN number: PK71NBPA2081003169856007
