PCB will have to pay penalty to ICC if Pakistan pulls out of World Twenty20: Shahryar Khan

New Delhi: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan has stated that if the national team is unable to participate in next month's ICC World Twenty20 in India, the body would have to pay penalty to the parent cricket organisation.

"If we pull out our team from the World T20 then we will have to pay a penalty to the ICC," the PCB chief said.

Khan also confirmed that the Pakistan government has not given any clearance yet to the PCB for sending a team for the coveted tourney.

"I just spoke to the Prime Minister's secretariat today and until the government has not given clearance to send the team to India for the World T20," Shahryar said.

He also added that the board has sought advice and clearance from the government.

"All these stories about the ICC threatening us with legal action or the Prime Minister having cleared the tour are not correct. We have sought advice and clearance from the government to send our team to the World event. The Prime Minister's secretariat has said they are reviewing the situation and will let us know soon," he added.

Reports claim that a reliable source in the PCB feels that the government was likely to clear the tour to India.

"It is a routine protocol that the PCB is following but all the vibes from the government quarters is that prime minister Nawaz Sharif will give clearance for the team to go to India," the source said.

(With PTI inputs)