A huge debate has occured on the future of cricketing relations between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as the two board have been at loggerheads ever since the Indian cricket board’s secretary Jay Shah, who also happens to be the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), confirmed that India won’t travel to Pakistan for the next edition of Asia Cup in 2023.
The statement didn’t go well with the PCB, which in return has threatned to pull out of the 2023 ODI world Cup, which will be hosted by India.
Now, former India opener Aakash Chopra, has opened up on the matter, and said that he can ‘give in writing’ that India won’t travel to Pakistan for next year’s Asia Cup and also Pakistan will definitely come to India to play the ODI World Cup.
“Asia Cup might not happen at all if India don’t participate, there’s no chance. The Asia Cup is a minor tournament compared to the world cup. Skipping the World Cup means you will end up forgoing a massive amount of revenue that ICC shares (with the participating nations). It’s a case of who blinks first. So I’m not taking this seriously. I feel the Asia Cup 2023 will be held and at a neutral venue,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Terming India as ‘the big brother of ACC’, Chopra also revealed that BCCI is the only member of the council that doesn’t take money, it instead distributes it among the other boards.
“Of course, ACC is a consortium. But few are aware of the fact that India doesn’t take a penny from ACC. Everybody takes a certain amount from the (ACC) coffer whether 4 million or 8 million but India ends up distributing their amount instead,” Chopra said. “India has been playing the role of a big brother in ACC. If it has been said that the team might not travel to Pakistan, then I can give you this in writing that India won’t. The Asia Cup will also be held at a neutral venue. And Pakistan will also definitely come to play in the World Cup (in India)… Take all this from in writing. All these things are guaranteed,” he added.
Notably, Pakistan is set to host the 50-over Asia Cup right before the ODI World Cup in India.
India have not toured their neighbouring country since 2008 and both sides only meet during multi-nation or ICC events due to strained political relations.
India’s last tour of its neighbouring nation came in 2008, for that year’s Asia Cup where MS Dhoni & Co. ended as runners-up while its last bilateral series came in early 2013 when Misbah-ul-Haq-led Pakistan team had toured India for three ODIs and two T20Is. Since then, both sides have met only during multi-nation or ICC events.