PCB ASKS ICC TO SHIFT WORLD CUP TO SOUTH AFRICA

New Delhi, Jan 16: With the Board of Control for Cricket ( BCCI) in India being skeptical about hosting the Women’s World Cup in Mumbai due to simmering tension on the Indo-Pak border, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Zaka Ashraf, on Wednesday suggested that the quadrennial extravaganza be shifted to South Africa.

Anticipating trouble due to Pakistani players’ participation in the event, to be held in Mumbai, the BCCI had sought the ICC’s help in taking a final call on whether to stick to the original venue or change it for the team from across the border in order to avoid security hassles.

“Women’s World Cup is an ICC event and if the security is not good enough in India, then the world governing body should consider shifting it to a neutral venue like South Africa or somewhere,” he said.

“I would want to leave it to ICC to decide. The entire tournament has to go to a neutral venue and a few matches cannot be shifted to another country and rest play somewhere else.

“It has to be in a peaceful manner. If it happens in India then there should be proper security arrangement, otherwise it could be shifted to a neutral venue,” Ashraf told Times Now.

The PCB chief insisted that South Africa could be a good alternative, in case India fails to provide security to the Pakistani women’s team.

“ICC is still considering options and trying to look for venues where cricket can be played. South Africa could be a good option because of the weather, good infrastructure and strong cricket at the domestic level,” he said.

Asked if he is keen on the tournament being shifted to South Africa, Ashraf said, “I am not saying that. The first option should be India but if the BCCI is unable to host it then I am saying the second option could be South Africa.”

— PTI