Asia Cup 2023 could take place in Pakistan without India: sources
BCCI has reservations about touring Pakistan
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not agree to shifting the Asia Cup 2023 to a neutral venue, according to sources.
The PCB is keen on hosting the event on home soil despite reservations from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Sources also revealed that PCB will go ahead with the tournament in Pakistan, even if India decides against participating in the event.
Additionally, Pakistan team will not take part in the event if the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) decides to move it to a neutral venue.
The PCB will also write another letter to the ACC, along with member countries, regarding an emergency meeting in order to address the issue.
It must be noted that on Tuesday BCCI Secretary Jay Shah had unilaterally announced that India won’t be touring Pakistan for the Asian event. Shah also said that the BCCI will insist on a neutral venue for the tournament.
BCCI’s stance left the PCB “surprised and disappointed” and they hinted that such statements could impact Pakistan’s participation in next year’s World Cup in India.
Meanwhile, newly-elected BCCI President Roger Binny, who replaced Sourav Ganguly as the BCCI chief on Tuesday, has admitted that clearance for touring or inviting other countries can only be given by the government.
“That isn’t our call," Binny was quoted as saying by news agency ANI on Thursday. “We can’t say where our team has to go. We need to take clearance from government if we leave the country or other countries come here. We can’t take that decision on our own, we’ve to rely on government."
The Asia Cup in 2023 will be a 50-over event as it will be used to prepare for the ODI World Cup in India next year.
India have not toured Pakistan since 2008 due to strained relations between the two countries.
The last bilateral series between the arch-rivals took place in 2012, when Pakistan toured India for limited-overs matches.
Over the past few years, the two countries have only faced each other in ICC and ACC events.
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