Tense Pakistan and India standoff poses threat to Cricket World Cup fixtures

The men’s Cricket World Cup is less than five months away and could yet see its schedule plunge into chaos amid an ongoing impasse involving Pakistan, India and the Asia Cup.

The six-team Asia Cup is scheduled for September and has become a point of principle for the hosts Pakistan after India – staging the 50-over men’s World Cup starting in October – indicated they cannot send their national team to the country. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board has proposed a “hybrid model” in which India’s Asia Cup matches – including up to three blockbuster games against Pakistan – and the second half of the tournament are held in the United Arab Emirates.

Najam Sethi, chair of the PCB, says this offer needs to be accepted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India or the Asia Cup will be called off. Equally, his government may insist on the same “hybrid” arrangements for Pakistan during India’s tournament.

If so Pakistan would have to play all nine World Cup group matches and any knockout appearances in the UAE, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka, forcing the International Cricket Council to rip up a fixture list that – incredibly for a global tournament so close to its proposed start date – is still to be published.

“I am hoping [the hybrid model for the Asia Cup] won’t be rejected or the consequences won’t be good for all of us,” Sethi told the Observer. “It’s not a threat – it’s a solution. By logic all matches should be played in Pakistan. India have said they cannot play in Pakistan. They have given no reasons. They can’t cite security – we have had England, Australia and New Zealand all tour in the last 18 months.

“India is creating the problem and compelling us to take a position we do not want to take. But there is no option.