Former Pakistan captain Aaqib Javed expressed surprise at Chris Gayle’s recent statement regarding the Pakistan-India clash in the upcoming ICC World Cup.
Gayle had suggested that players from both teams should demand higher remuneration for participating in this highly anticipated encounter. Javed, speaking to the media in Lahore, found Gayle’s statement “weird” and pointed out that cricket boards and players are not in a position to make such demands.
“Whenever those teams [India and Pakistan] play, especially in a World Cup, the revenues they generate are humongous. One game can take care of the entire ICC event. Pakistan and India players should demand a lot of money for those games because those games are high-paid games TV-wise. I don’t control the board or the ICC. If I was in their position, I would want a lot more.”
While addressing the media, Javed also expressed his belief that the current Pakistan team is much stronger compared to previous years and should be considered one of the top contenders for the ICC World Cup 2023. However, he also cautioned about the potential impact of politics on Pakistan cricket, emphasizing the importance of keeping sports and politics separate to preserve the integrity of the game.
“Cricket boards and players are not in a position to make such a demand”.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will feature 10 teams competing across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19, with the tournament opener and final scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The highly anticipated match between Pakistan and India is set to be held on October 15 in Ahmedabad. Javed also highlighted the importance of consistent cricket policies, irrespective of changes in the leadership, drawing a parallel with the decline of hockey due to the interference of politics.
Here is Pakistan’s schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023: they will face Qualifier 1 in Hyderabad on October 6, Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on October 12, India in Ahmedabad on October 15, Australia in Bengaluru on October 20, Afghanistan in Chennai on October 23, South Africa in Chennai on October 27, Bangladesh in Kolkata on October 31, New Zealand in Bengaluru on November 4 (day match), and England in Kolkata on November 12.
The day matches will begin at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST), while the remaining matches will be day-night fixtures starting at 01:30 pm (PST).
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