ICC chairman, chief executive to visit Pakistan next week

Published
0
International Cricket Council Chairman Greg Barclay and Chief Executive Geoff Allardice. — Photo courtesy ICC
International Cricket Council Chairman Greg Barclay and Chief Executive Geoff Allardice. — Photo courtesy ICC

International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Greg Barclay and Chief Executive Geoff Allardice are set to visit Pakistan on May 30 (Tuesday) for a two-day visit.

According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this will be Barclay’s first visit to Pakistan. He will also be the first ICC chairman to tour the country since former president Ray Mali’s visit in 2008.

“This will be the first time since October 2004 when both the top two ICC officials will together visit the Pakistan cricket headquarters,” the press release said, adding that Allardice has regularly visited the country — first as the ICC general manager (cricket) and then as the ICC chief executive.

The duo will arrive in Lahore on Tuesday morning and meet PCB Management Committee Chair Najam Sethi, PCB Chief Operating Officer Barrister Salman Naseer, and other board officials.

The visit comes amid tensions between Pakistan and India on the Asia Cup and World Cup.

Bilateral cricket has been a casualty of the soured political relations between India and Pakistan over the last decade and the neighbouring countries now play each other only in multi-team events in neutral venues.

India, citing safety concerns, have ruled out travelling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in September and the PCB has offered to let them play their matches in the United Arab Emirates in what has been dubbed a “hybrid model”.

Meanwhile, Sethi has said there is a “very real possibility” that Pakistan will boycott this year’s World Cup if they lose hosting rights to the Asia Cup.

Opinion

Editorial

Beneath the surface
Updated 09 Oct, 2026

Beneath the surface

The recent round made fewer headlines because the hard bargaining over the budget had already been done.
Moscow disagreement
Updated 09 Oct, 2026

Moscow disagreement

Both the Taliban’s denialism, and Russia’s apparently soft stance towards the Afghan terrorism problem, are unfortunate.
Vanished girls
09 Oct, 2026

Vanished girls

THE scourge of female disappearances in Pakistan should be a matter of shame. Institutional reforms and ...
Conundrum
Updated 08 Oct, 2026

Conundrum

The two sides came close to a breakthrough in the last round. It is hoped that they can cross the finish line on their second attempt.
Gaza’s torment
08 Oct, 2026

Gaza’s torment

THREE years since the Oct 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the people of Gaza continue to face a nightmarish existence....
The healthy-food gap
08 Oct, 2026

The healthy-food gap

PAKISTAN’S nutrition problem is usually blamed on poverty, poor eating habits or lack of awareness. But according...