"We want to play against India with our honour intact": Najam Sethi

[MenInG]

Najam Sethi in his latest presser when asked about prospects of cricket between Pakistan and India in view of the proposed visit by FM Bilawal Bhutto to India:

"We are being told that the ice is breaking (thaw in relations between Pakistan and India), and if this continues then when the for the Champions Trophy comes in 2025, India could consider playing in Pakistan; But we are being told that the Asia Cup should be played at a neutral venue and that Pakistan should go to India to play the World Cup; Our view is that if there has to be a thaw in relations it should happen from the India side because we have been saying for a while that we are ready to play and if the world is coming over to play in Pakistan, India should also do the same, we will welcome them here and we invite them to do so, and on reciprocal basis, we will go and play in India also"

"We could have said that security was a concern in the old days but not now - what is the excuse India has to not to play in Pakistan? It is an excuse based on political reasons"

"This is why we have decided to take the stand that all Asia Cup games will be held in Pakistan and games for India can be held in a neutral venue, in a sort of a hybrid system; It is our wish that if this experiment of a hybrid system is successful, then the same can be done in the World Cup as well until such times as the Governments of both countries come to some sort of an agreement"

"This is what the BCCI says which is to say that the GOI does not allow us to play in Pakistan; In our case we didn't have such a restriction and we were given permission to play in India in 2016"

"I cannot say what our GOP's view will be when the World Cup arrives but at the moment our view is based on reciprocity i.e. you play in our country and we will play in yours, which is also a view shared by the public who don't want us to go out of our way in this case; We aren't starving here, we can stand on our own feet financially, so we want to play against India with our honour intact; So these are the negotiations we are having with the ACC and maybe we will have to have the same discussions with the ICC also"

 

[Saj]

Despite all the words and threats and posturing, it's more than likely PCB will bow down to the BCCI.

Expect the usual situation - PCB gives in to BCCI and gets nothing in return.

 

[gazza619]

You got zero honour Sethi sahab.

 

[Firebat]

Having to fly to England to play against India in a Pakistan-hosted tournament is not keeping much honour intact.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Playing with honor means you don’t do “TC” of BCCI that the last 10 odd PCB chiefs have done it; however, you also play smartly - AND HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS!!

And what hurts them the most? Money!


This is how you do it.

Agree to play with India in the Asia cup at a neutral venue by making India pay ALL the expenses of hosting BOTH teams at the neutral venue.

PCB gets all the revenue minus match fee of both teams. Thank India for generating us the revenue.

Then

Go to India for WC - play in India - take your $22 million participation fee - and bring home the Indian money.

This way you hit them twice, where it hurts.

 

[hitthestump]

This is how you do it.

Agree to play with India in the Asia cup at a neutral venue by making India pay ALL the expenses of hosting BOTH teams at the neutral venue.

Pakistan have close to zero leverage here. All India have to do is say: "no, we can't agree to these terms and therefore you must agree to our terms or play the Asia Cup without us"

Any suggestion of Indian non-participation will go down like a ton of bricks with the ACC and the possible consequences are wide-ranging.

Pakistan can be firm but have no choice but to be reasonable with the BCCI and hope they aren't completely belligerent in return.

There will be give and take but Pakistan will be doing most of the giving.

 

[MenInG]

Having to fly to England to play against India in a Pakistan-hosted tournament is not keeping much honour intact.

Have a feeling it's "Dubai Challo" for Pakistan and India games.

Because there will be one - also what happens if there is a final in Asia Cup between Pakistan and India?

Ridiculous that the host country will fly over to a neutral place to play their own game?

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Pakistan have close to zero leverage here. All India have to do is say: "no, we can't agree to these terms and therefore you must agree to our terms or play the Asia Cup without us"

Any suggestion of Indian non-participation will go down like a ton of bricks with the ACC and the possible consequences are wide-ranging.

Pakistan can be firm but have no choice but to be reasonable with the BCCI and hope they aren't completely belligerent in return.

There will be give and take but Pakistan will be doing most of the giving.

Worse come to worse, Asia cup will be cancelled if India influences smaller boards to not play since India won't play in Pakistan.

Good enough. Only India will get the bad name and be solely responsible for sabotaging the Asia cup.

Pakistan should patiently wait for the right time to reply back with an iron fist when an opportunity arrives. And it will. Time changes. Nothing stays the same.


And Pakistan should STILL go to India, participate in the WC and bring that home that $22 million revenue from India.
This will give India a lifetime of a heartburn.

 

[sam_ahm]

Sethi is speaking like a kid. "If you don't come, Ok, we will play at a neutral venue but then I will also not come... Na na na bo bo"

What is this guys? Seriously

 

[U$ofA]

Playing with honor means you don’t do “TC” of BCCI that the last 10 odd PCB chiefs have done it; however, you also play smartly - AND HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS!!

And what hurts them the most? Money!


This is how you do it.

Agree to play with India in the Asia cup at a neutral venue by making India pay ALL the expenses of hosting BOTH teams at the neutral venue.

PCB gets all the revenue minus match fee of both teams. Thank India for generating us the revenue.

Then

Go to India for WC - play in India - take your $22 million participation fee - and bring home the Indian money.

This way you hit them twice, where it hurts.

You are right with the first point. If BCCI pays all costs then it their bank balance.

But your WC point is not correct. The $$$ come from ICC. Not BCCI. In fact BCCI also are given $$$ by the ICC.

 

[U$ofA]

Worse come to worse, Asia cup will be cancelled if India influences smaller boards to not play since India won't play in Pakistan.

Good enough. Only India will get the bad name and be solely responsible for sabotaging the Asia cup.

Pakistan should patiently wait for the right time to reply back with an iron fist when an opportunity arrives. And it will. Time changes. Nothing stays the same.


And Pakistan should STILL go to India, participate in the WC and bring that home that $22 million revenue from India.
This will give India a lifetime of a heartburn.

I hope this happens. What a totally pointless tournament.

I don't think many people care. The only reason Asia cup is being discussed so much is because of the Ind/Pak rift and where the games will be played.

 

[hitthestump]

Worse come to worse, Asia cup will be cancelled if India influences smaller boards to not play since India won't play in Pakistan.

Good enough. Only India will get the bad name and be solely responsible for sabotaging the Asia cup.

Pakistan should patiently wait for the right time to reply back with an iron fist when an opportunity arrives. And it will. Time changes. Nothing stays the same.


And Pakistan should STILL go to India, participate in the WC and bring that home that $22 million revenue from India.
This will give India a lifetime of a heartburn.

Just an example, BCCI were solely responsible for brutally and unjustly dismantling the ICL all those years ago. Did their 'bad name' make any difference to them?

Do Indians care about the bad name they get from discriminating against Pakistani players from the only t20 tournament that has an international window?

Nobody even cares bro. The only thing that talks is money and Indian hegemony over the game. $22m is a drop in the ocean for them.

Pakistan would be foolish to try and throw their weight around. This is a political issue so co-operation with the boards should still be on the table. If PCB start getting proud and cunning they will learn quickly.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Just an example, BCCI were solely responsible for brutally and unjustly dismantling the ICL all those years ago. Did their 'bad name' make any difference to them?

Do Indians care about the bad name they get from discriminating against Pakistani players from the only t20 tournament that has an international window?

Nobody even cares bro. The only thing that talks is money and Indian hegemony over the game. $22m is a drop in the ocean for them.

Pakistan would be foolish to try and throw their weight around. This is a political issue so co-operation with the boards should still be on the table. If PCB start getting proud and cunning they will learn quickly.

Pakistan cares - and Pakistan will pay back.

The laws of nature are woven in such a way that there are high and low tides that run thru the entire universe.

No one stays on top all the time and no stays at the bottom all the time.

And a time WILL come when hands will be switched.

 

[Arabian_Tiger]

Pakistan cares - and Pakistan will pay back.

The laws of nature are woven in such a way that there are high and low tides that run thru the entire universe.

No one stays on top all the time and no stays at the bottom all the time.

And a time WILL come when hands will be switched.

Sometimes its you who is below and sometimes its they who are above....


Its all KUDRAT KA NIZAM...

 

[Devadwal]

Playing with honor means you don’t do “TC” of BCCI that the last 10 odd PCB chiefs have done it; however, you also play smartly - AND HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS!!

And what hurts them the most? Money!


This is how you do it.

Agree to play with India in the Asia cup at a neutral venue by making India pay ALL the expenses of hosting BOTH teams at the neutral venue.

PCB gets all the revenue minus match fee of both teams. Thank India for generating us the revenue.

Then

Go to India for WC - play in India - take your $22 million participation fee - and bring home the Indian money.

This way you hit them twice, where it hurts.

Now wake up from dream and smell the reality . thankyou

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Now wake up from dream and smell the reality . thankyou

I think it's you who needs to wake up.

All cards are in Pakistan's hands.

If any team wants to play Asia cup games outside of Pakistan, then it should pay all costs - if not, either play in Pakistan OR exit out.
If BCCI influences other small boards to back out - then so be it. Cancel the Asia cup. Many agree that it's a meaningless tournament anyway.

Comes WC, Pakistan goes to India, gets it's fair chunk of cash that mostly comes out from the wallets of Indians. OUCH!!

Doesn't look like much of a dream to me. We are simply playing according the rules.

 

[Local.Dada]

I

Comes WC, Pakistan goes to India, gets it's fair chunk of cash that mostly comes out from the wallets of Indians. OUCH!!

Doesn't look like much of a dream to me. We are simply playing according the rules.

It works both ways, if Pakistan team comes to India the same Indian wallets will get even fatter from the viewership too.

Asia cup is a low hanging fruit, India can get away with anything after refusing to travel to Pakistan. Either shift the venue or flat out cancel the event.

It’s Pakistan that would be in a dilemma which would be to not play the World Cup which would be a huge thing for Pakistan cricket or swallow the pride and come to India and play the World Cup which means everything being done on India’s terms.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Playing with honor means you don’t do “TC” of BCCI that the last 10 odd PCB chiefs have done it; however, you also play smartly - AND HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS!!

And what hurts them the most? Money!


This is how you do it.

Agree to play with India in the Asia cup at a neutral venue by making India pay ALL the expenses of hosting BOTH teams at the neutral venue.

PCB gets all the revenue minus match fee of both teams. Thank India for generating us the revenue.

Then

Go to India for WC - play in India - take your $22 million participation fee - and bring home the Indian money.

This way you hit them twice, where it hurts.

1st one isn't happening. PCB will have to pay the 3mn USD. Thats what the media reported. Else entire tournament is shifted out.

Pakistan will come to India despite India not visiting pakistan, just to get the ICC handout.

Works perfectly for India.

 

[hitthestump]

I think it's you who needs to wake up.

All cards are in Pakistan's hands.

If any team wants to play Asia cup games outside of Pakistan, then it should pay all costs - if not, either play in Pakistan OR exit out.
If BCCI influences other small boards to back out - then so be it. Cancel the Asia cup. Many agree that it's a meaningless tournament anyway.

Comes WC, Pakistan goes to India, gets it's fair chunk of cash that mostly comes out from the wallets of Indians. OUCH!!

Doesn't look like much of a dream to me. We are simply playing according the rules.

Maybe you're right in the short term.

In the longer term the consequence is that Pakistan will not be given rights to host anything, neither ICC events or meaningless tournaments like the Asia Cup.

Pakistan's influence and hosting ability goes right back down as no institution is going to give anything to a nation where Indian non-involvement is a risk.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

It works both ways, if Pakistan team comes to India the same Indian wallets will get even fatter from the viewership too.

Asia cup is a low hanging fruit, India can get away with anything after refusing to travel to Pakistan. Either shift the venue or flat out cancel the event.

It’s Pakistan that would be in a dilemma which would be to not play the World Cup which would be a huge thing for Pakistan cricket or swallow the pride and come to India and play the World Cup which means everything being done on India’s terms.

This is the idea!
There is no point is “swolling the pride” against baighairut BCCI.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Maybe you're right in the short term.

In the longer term the consequence is that Pakistan will not be given rights to host anything, neither ICC events or meaningless tournaments like the Asia Cup.

Pakistan's influence and hosting ability goes right back down as no institution is going to give anything to a nation where Indian non-involvement is a risk.

Too much speculation.
We don’t know what happens in the future but as stated earlier, low n high tides run thru the universe.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

1st one isn't happening. PCB will have to pay the 3mn USD. Thats what the media reported. Else entire tournament is shifted out.

Pakistan will come to India despite India not visiting pakistan, just to get the ICC handout.

Works perfectly for India.

We will see which one is happening.
I will be glad if Asia cup cancels. Like many others said, it’s meaningless.

Pakistan will come to India and we will see how many Indians actually boycott watching the games in the honor of dead Indian soldiers of Pulwama attack.

 

[MenInG]

Ramiz in an interview

"Opting for a neutral venue, would not be beneficial for Pakistan"

 

[offstump]

Sethi is goona botch this just like he botched Mitchell Fruit Farms.

The best approach is for the Asia Cup to be canceled, Pakistan goes to India for the WC not only to play but also as a piece of diplomacy. Perhaps even the bumbling village idiot Shehbaz Sharif can attend a match in Chennai and beg for some money as well. It’s a win win for all.

 

[cricketjoshila]

We will see which one is happening.
I will be glad if Asia cup cancels. Like many others said, it’s meaningless.

Pakistan will come to India and we will see how many Indians actually boycott watching the games in the honor of dead Indian soldiers of Pulwama attack.

Why will Indians boycott and not watch their team play?

 

[cricketjoshila]

We will see which one is happening.
I will be glad if Asia cup cancels. Like many others said, it’s meaningless.

Pakistan will come to India and we will see how many Indians actually boycott watching the games in the honor of dead Indian soldiers of Pulwama attack.

Asia cup can be played without Pakistan.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Asia cup can be played without Pakistan.

As I said, it's meaningless ... you are more than welcome to play without Pakistan, so what?

 

[Hitman]

We will see which one is happening.
I will be glad if Asia cup cancels. Like many others said, it’s meaningless.

Pakistan will come to India and we will see how many Indians actually boycott watching the games in the honor of dead Indian soldiers of Pulwama attack.

You expect Indian fans to boycott watching their team play in a World Cup match that too held in India, and that too against their arch rivals? It's one thing to not play Pakistan, but once both the teams clash, no one with any sense will boycott it.

 

[basitmian]

According to our PM’s famous quote: “Beggars can’t be choosers”

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Why will Indians boycott and not watch their team play?

He is talking about those hypocrites who boycott Pakistan whenever it suits them. You are one of them.

 

[cricketjoshila]

As I said, it's meaningless ... you are more than welcome to play without Pakistan, so what?

Yes since you decided it’s meaningless it becomes meaningless .

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

He is talking about those hypocrites who boycott Pakistan whenever it suits them. You are one of them.

Yes and pak isn't helping the cause by not taking a hard stand, just boycott the wc in India.

 

[Kroll]

I wish Sethi would shut up, there is no honour in wailing and crying like this. The BCCI and Indian govt. deserve contempt not kowtowing.

 

[WicketLord]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1693199743248445815