DURBAN , July 12, 2023: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee chairman Zaka Ashraf met Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday on the sidelines of an International Cricket Council meeting in Durban, South Africa.
According to sources, the meeting between the two officials was conducted in a friendly atmosphere. Shah extended his congratulations to Ashraf for assuming his position as the chairman of the PCB management committee, and they engaged in discussions on various topics.
One of the main subjects of their conversation was Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming World Cup and the potential increase in matches to be played in Pakistan as part of the Asia Cup, according to the hybrid model that has been accepted.
Zaka Ashraf also extended an invitation to Shah to watch Asia Cup matches in Pakistan, which the BCCI secretary accepted.
“Pakistani people know how to welcome and take care of their guests. This is a good start. We will have more such meetings in future,” Ashraf said.
Similarly, Shah also invited Ashraf to watch World Cup matches in India, which the PCB chief also accepted.
In addition to the Asia Cup and World Cup discussions, Shah and Ashraf also focused on bilateral cricket relations between Pakistan and India. Earlier that day, Zaka Ashraf expressed his intention to explore the resumption of bilateral cricket between the two countries in an interview with a local news outlet. He emphasized the importance of establishing confidence-building measures between the cricket boards of both nations and promoting cricket relations.
The last bilateral series between Pakistan and India occurred in 2012, and since then, they have only faced each other in multi-lateral tournaments.
Regarding Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup, Ashraf stated that the committee formed by the prime minister would determine the venues and ensure adequate security arrangements in accordance with the requirements of the Government of Pakistan.
The 2023 World Cup is scheduled to take place from October 5 to November 19 in India.