The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday indicated that the possibility of moving the venue for next year’s Asia Cup could “impact” Pakistan’s visit to India for the 2023 men’s ODI World Cup, as well as future ICC events in India in the 2024-31 cycle.
Meanwhile, the PCB further said that the comments made by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday over shifting next year’s Asia Cup to a neutral venue from Pakistan as India would not travel to Pakistan were noted with “surprise and disappointment”.
“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. After having presided over the ACC meeting during which Pakistan was awarded the ACC Asia Cup with an overwhelming support and response from the ACC Board Members, Mr Shah’s statement of shifting of the ACC Asia Cup has clearly been made unilaterally,” said the PCB in an official statement.
Notably, the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup, to be held in the 50-over format, had been allotted to Pakistan as per the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP).
“This is contrary to the philosophy and spirit for which the Asian Cricket Council was formed in September 1983 — a united Asian cricket body to safeguard the interests of the its Members and organise, develop, and promote the game of cricket in Asia. 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,” added the PCB.
PCB also said it has requested for an emergency meeting of the ACC board to discuss the matter.
“The PCB has to date not received any official communication from the ACC on the statement of the ACC President. As such, the PCB has written to the Asian Cricket Council to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible on this important and sensitive matterm,” it added.
Earlier on Tuesday, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, also the President of the ACC, had stated that “India will play the Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue,” making it clear that Rohit Sharma & Co. won’t be traveling to Pakistan for the tournament.
“The Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a neutral venue,” Shah told reporters following BCCI’s 91st Annual general Meeting in Mumbai adding: “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.”
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.