The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee 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.
Despite being considered one of sport's greatest rivalries, India and Pakistan have not met on home soil in any version of the game since 2012, and only play each other in multinational tournaments on neutral grounds.
“We have been told to allow organising Asia Cup at a neutral venue and come over to 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. We will definitely go on to India once the normalisation starts,” Sethi said while responding to a question on Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto’s forthcoming visit to India to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's meeting scheduled in Goa from May 4-5.
Earlier on Thursday, Sethi also confirmed Mickey Arthur’s appointment as the Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team.
The 54-year-old will also be a part of the coaching staff for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, away tour to Australia and home series against the West Indies. He will also be present with the side for Pakistan’s matches against India in the ACC Asia Cup.
During his time from 2016 to 2019, Arthur coached Pakistan to No.1 in Tests and T20Is, and also helped the side to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
“I am pleased that Mickey has formally rejoined the Pakistan men’s cricket team with an enhanced role in which he will be responsible for formulating and implementing strategies for the upcoming assignments across all formats. Furthermore, he will also be responsible for strengthening the national team culture, identifying and grooming future stars so that we can strengthen our bench-strength and strategically secure our future,” Sethi said.
“Having lived and worked in Pakistan during his previous tenure, Mickey knows the current players, the structure and the system at the back of his hand. I am sure he will incorporate learnings from the previous tenure so that he can have an even more successful second term,” he added.