Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has revealed that PCB will get a blank cheque if the Babar Azam-led side beat India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. India will face Pakistan in their opening game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium on October 24.
“One strong investor told me that a blank cheque is ready for the PCB if Pakistan beats India in the upcoming T20 World Cup,” Raza declared
“PCB runs 50 per cent on the funding of ICC. 90 per cent of funding to ICC comes from India. I’m afraid that if India stopped funding ICC, then PCB might collapse because PCB gives zero percent funding to ICC. I’m determined to make Pakistan cricket strong,” Cricket Pakistan quoted Ramiz Raja as saying in a meeting with the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC)
Notably, Pakistan has never defeated India in a T20 World Cup in all their 5 meetings.
When it comes to 20-20 World Cup, Pakistan has lost 4 out of 5 matches with 1 ending in a tie. The arch-rivals are yet to taste victory against India in the showpiece event.
- Pakistan have never defeated India in T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup
- India have an upper hand against Pakistan in ICC tournaments
- India had defeated Pakistan in the finals of the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup
- Pakistan won the T20 WC title in 2009, their first and only title.
India leads Pakistan 6-1 in 8 T20 matches, including a tie. The record shows Pakistan will have an uphill task against Virat Kohli & Co.
Ramiz Raja’s announcement comes weeks after NZ and ENG’s cancellation to tour Pakistan. Last month, New Zealand decided to end the tour against Pakistan following a New Zealand government security alert. The PCB chairman said teams won’t withdraw from touring Pakistan if the board has strong financial support.
“If our cricket economy is strong, we won’t be used and then binned by teams like England and New Zealand,” he said.
“Best cricket team and best cricket economy are two big challenges,” said Ramiz.
India, champions in the inaugural edition played in South Africa in 2007 and finalists in 2014, will also have Afghanistan, New Zealand, and two qualifiers from Round 1 to contend with in Group 2.
Meanwhile, Group 1 comprises England, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies, and two qualifiers from Round 1. Gambhir also explained why Group 1 is the actual group of death
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman will get underway from October 17, with the final to be played in Dubai on November 14.
