India will not travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023: Jay Shah: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Jay Shah has dropped a bombshell as he asserted that the next edition of the Asia Cup would have to be played at a neutral venue and not in Pakistan, which is officially scheduled to be the host of the tournament.
After the conclusion of the BCCI’s latest annual general meeting, Mr Shah, who is also the Asian Cricket Council President, suggested that India won’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and neither Pakistan can come to India.
“The Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a neutral venue,” Shah told media after the BCCI’s AGM. “I am saying this as ACC President. We [India] can’t go there [to Pakistan], they can’t come here. In the past also, Asia Cup has been played at a neutral venue.”
Although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hasn’t yet officially reacted to Jay Shah’s statement, the inside gossips confirm that the PCB isn’t pleased with Shah’s remark on the Asia Cup that too when it was the stage for BCCI’s AGM.
A PCB spokesperson said that although the cricket board hasn’t reacted to the remark made by ACC President, they strongly condemn it. Moreover, there will be a robust response to this matter for instance – Pakistan leaving the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
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It’s important to note that things get pretty complicated as India and Pakistan are set to host two upcoming ICC events. India will host the 2023 ODI World Cup while Pakistan has been officially chosen to stage the 2025’s Champions Trophy.
Both India and Pakistan don’t play bilateral cricket and their mutual travel has been restricted for a decade now. In all the matches they are involved are in neutral venues. If India doesn’t travel to Pakistan and likewise Pakistan does the same, it may have a significant impact on the upcoming ICC events.
Notably, earlier as well, the BCCI mulled pulling out of the Asia Cup if it happens in Pakistan. It now remains to be seen how PCB reacts to this whole situation and how ACC prepares for its further events.
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