In a shocking claim, Pakistan Primer Minister and former cricket captain Imran Khan has claimed that world cricket is under India’s control. The remarks from Pakistan PM came days after England and New Zealand cricket teams decided to cancel their tour to Pakistan citing security issues.
In an interview to Middle East Eye, Pakistan PM Imran Khan said that no country would decide against touring India because India controls world cricket now. “Money is a big player now. For the players, as well as for the cricket boards. The money lies in India, so basically, India controls world cricket now. I mean, they do, whatever they say goes. No one would dare do that to India because they know that the sums involved, India can sort of produce much more money,” Imran was quoted as saying.
“England let itself down. I think that there is still this feeling in England that they do a great favour to play with countries like Pakistan. One of the reasons is that, obviously, the money,” he added.
Earlier on Thursday (October 7), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja had said that India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) control the world cricket. Ramiz Raja claimed that if Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should stop funding Pakistan cricket then PCB will ‘collapse’.
“PCB is funded 50% by the ICC that is funded 90% by the BCCI or in a way, the Indian business houses are running Pakistan cricket. If tomorrow Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi feels that we won’t provide any funding to Pakistan, then this cricket board can collapse,” Raja said in a Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee meeting.
Meanwhile, Pakistan cricket suffered a series of setbacks after New Zealand and England cancelled their respective tours to the nation. First New Zealand pulled out of their limited-overs tour just hours before the first ODI in Rawalpindi, citing security concerns.
