These comments by Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), have not been received kindly by the PCB.
BCCI vs PCB before India vs Pakistan: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jay Shah’s remarks that Team India will not travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023 and will insist on a neutral venue for the tournament, have understandably not gone down well with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Shah made the remarks after BCCI AGM on Tuesday, and added: “Neutral venue for the Asia Cup is not unprecedented and we have decided that we will not travel to Pakistan. I have decided that we will play at a neutral venue.”
These comments by Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), have not been received kindly by the PCB. The Pakistani cricket governing body retorted that the “comments were made without any discussion or consultation with the Board of the Asian Cricket Council or the Pakistan Cricket Board (event host) and without any thoughts towards their long-term consequences and implications”.
“The overall impact of such statements have the potential to split the Asian and international cricketing communities, and can impact Pakistan’s visit to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and future ICC Events in India in the 2024-2031 cycle,” PCB said in a release.
The cricket governing body in Pakistan said it was yet to receive an official word regarding the change in Asia Cup 2023 venue. “The PCB has to date not received any official communication or clarification from the ACC on the statement of the ACC President. As such, the PCB has now requested the Asian Cricket Council to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible to discuss this important and sensitive matter,” the PCB stated.
An official privy to PCB told agencies that its officials are surprised at the timing of Jay Shah’s statement as there is still nearly a year to go before the Asia Cup’s stipulated September 2023 start date. “It is the biggest match of the Asia Cup and with either team missing, the tournament doesn’t make sense. There is a lot of time left, but I hope the issue is sorted. The neutral venue is the best option if the BCCI decides against sending its team to Pakistan,” the official was quoted as saying.
India vs Pakistan in past years
India and Pakistan only play each other in Asian and ICC events due to the political tensions between the two countries. India last toured Pakistan in 2008 while Pakistan’s last series in India came in 2012-13.
The 2018 Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in India, was moved to the UAE after the BCCI couldn’t procure clearance from government security agencies to host Pakistan.
The officials from both the PCB and BCCI will be confronted with the issue at the International Cricket Council’s board meeting in Melbourne next month. The ICC is yet to comment on the matter.
Notably, the 2022 edition of the Asia Cup was also played in a neutral venue after an economic and political crisis engulfed host nation Sri Lanka. The tournament was held in UAE, where Sri Lanka emerged as the champions after beating Pakistan in the final.
