Zaka Ashraf suggests ICC to shift Women’s World Cup to South Africa

Due to simmering tension on the Indo-Pak border, BCCI is being sceptical about hosting the Women’s World Cup in Mumbai and, reacting to the current situation, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has suggested ICC to shift the mega event to
South Africa.

India has already sent Pakistan hockey players in order to avoid trouble. Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja, who were covering India-England series as commentators, have also been advised to leave the country. Since the Pakistan women team is scheduled to play
in Mumbai, this may make the situation even worse.

On the current situation, Ashraf stated: 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."

"I would want to leave it on 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," he told a private news channel.

He added: "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."

"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. There is no problem. As far as arrangements and security are concerned, if BCCI can provide those it is
fine."

When asked about the reports that ICC might go ahead and organise the tournament in India without Pakistan team, the PCB boss dismissed any such kind of scenario, saying that it is an international event.

He, meanwhile, explained that if the World Cup takes place at the same venue, it will be BCCI and Indian government’s responsibility to provide fool-proof security to the Pakistan players.

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Posted by Rana Nasir Ghafoor on Jan 17 2013. Filed under Pakistan, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry