ICC Chairman Greg Barclay and CEO Geoff Allardice are set to embark on a two-day visit to Lahore on Tuesday. The purpose of their visit is to engage in talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, with discussions likely to focus on the venues for the upcoming ODI World Cup. The schedule for the tournament is expected to be announced in the coming days.
The PCB has recently expressed its opposition to playing the highly-anticipated match against India in Ahmedabad. However, Cricbuzz sources indicate that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not inclined to change the venue. The ICC has stated that the visit should not be overinterpreted. It is worth noting that Greg Barclay will be the first ICC chairman to tour Pakistan since Ray Mali’s visit to the country in 2008.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced its willingness to host the Asia Cup if the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) decides to award the championship to the island nation. This statement comes ahead of the ACC meeting where a decision regarding the six-nation continental tournament is expected to be made.
A senior SLC official stated, “The SLC is fully prepared to host the Asia Cup at short notice. The final decision lies with the ACC.” The discussions surrounding the event have indicated a consensus that there should be a single venue for the tournament.