Asia Cup 2023: India vs Pakistan Cricket: BCCI vs PCB: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to quit Asian Cricket Council to put pressure on the BCCI. To top it all, PCB is also considering pulling out of Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. The reason? The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023. On Tuesday, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah cleared the air, saying that he will request ACC to have the tournament at a neutral venue. Follow IND vs PAK LIVE Updates at ICC T20 World Cup 2022 on InsideSport.IN.
As per Geo News, PCB officials held a meeting immediately after Jay Shah’s announcement. They are currently considering “several options” following India’s unilateral decision against touring Pakistan. It should be noted that Pakistan and India face off in cricket only at global events. There has been no bilateral series since 2012.
“Neutral venue for 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,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is also the president of the ACC, said after the AGM.
Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan THREATENS to EXIT Asian Cricket Council, mulls pulling out of 2023 World Cup after BCCI refuses to tour for Asia Cup 2023, Follow LIVE Updates
“The PCB is now prepared to take hard decisions and play hard ball because it is also aware that the ICC and ACC events will have to face commercial liabilities and losses if Pakistan does not play India in these multi-team events,” a senior PCB source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“We have nothing to say at the moment but yes we will look at things and take up this matter at appropriate forums like the ICC board meeting in Melbourne next month,” a spokesperson said. However it has been learnt that PCB Chairman Raja and other senior officials were very upset with the announcement by Jay Shah that India would not travel to Pakistan next year and had decided to take some hard decisions now.
Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan THREATENS to EXIT Asian Cricket Council, mulls pulling out of 2023 World Cup after BCCI refuses to tour for Asia Cup 2023, Follow LIVE Updates
“The PCB officials are surprised at the timing of Jay Shah’s statement because there is still nearly a year to go before the Asia Cup is held in Pakistan in September 2023,” one insider said.
“The PCB is wondering in what capacity has Jay Shah given the statement that the ACC will look to relocate the Asia Cup to UAE out of Pakistan because the hosting rights were awarded by the executive board of the ACC not the President,” the PCB source said.
Asia Cup 2023: Why BCCI unlikely to get Govt of India’s NOD for Pakistan visit?
- The government of India has refused any bilateral relation, accusing Pakistan of terror funding.
- India only engages with Pakistan at world forums publically. There has been no diplomatic relations since Narendra Modi’s visit to Pakistan in 2015.
- Following Pulwama and Pathankot attacks and subsequent surgical strike, the relation has only worsened.
- As a result, the GoI is all set to deny BCCI’s request to visit Pakistan for the 50-over Asia Cup in 2023.
- However, there could be repercussions.
- India are set to host the ICC World Cup in 2023 and Pakistan government might deny participating.
- Pakistan will also host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
- If the GoI gives green signal for a visit to Pakistan for an ACC tournament, it could open up an avenue for bilateral cricket.
- At the moment, there is still time and if the government of India changes its stance and relations improve, it could be possible in future.
Asia Cup 2023: BCCI vs PCB WAR is on, Pakistan THREATENS to EXIT Asian Cricket Council after BCCI refuses to travel for Asia Cup 2023, Follow LIVE Updates
India haven’t toured Pakistan for any match since Asia Cup 2008. The Mumbai attacks in November 2008 deteriorated diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan. Since then, the diplomatic tension between the two nations has only increased. With the BJP government in power, the message has been very clear: No diplomatic ties until Pakistan stops terror funding.
While the Pakistani government has refuted India’s claims at the UN and other forums, India has been adamant. As BCCI Secretary Jay Shah is Home Minister Amit Shah’s son and is also the Asian Cricket Council chief, he will be in a tough spot. He will be under pressure from both India and Pakistan considering his position as the ACC chief.
The last bilateral tour was back in 2012 when Pakistan travelled to India for a limited-overs series. However, Pakistan have come to India for 2016 World Cup. That was the last time. Since then, the two teams have only played in neutral venues.
“At the moment, travelling to Pakistan is out of the equation. The government will only give us permission if it’s an ICC event. So, travelling to Pakistan for Asia Cup is unlikely to materialise. We are already discussing if a change in venue is possible for Asia Cup and we will request the ACC to move the tournament out,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
Asia Cup 2023: BCCI vs PCB WAR is on, Pakistan THREATENS to EXIT Asian Cricket Council after BCCI refuses to travel for Asia Cup 2023, Follow LIVE Updates
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