The PCB have issued a strongly worded statement in response to the BCCI confirming that India will not tour Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup.
Notably, the PCB suggested the move could threaten Pakistan’s participation in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, to be held in India.
“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,” the statement reads.
On Tuesday, Asia Cricket Council president Jay Shah, who is also the BCCI secretary and the son of India’s home minister Amit Shah, told Cricbuzz that India would refuse to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup, and put forward the possibility of the tournament being staged at a neutral venue.
“A 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,” Shah said.
PCB, however, say they were not consulted before Shah’s statement. “The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment of yesterday’s comments made by the ACC President Mr Jay Shah with regards to shifting of next year’s Asia Cup to a neutral venue. 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. 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 its Members and organise, develop, and promote the game of cricket in Asia.”
The two teams have not played a bilateral series since 2012/13 when Pakistan travelled to India due to political tensions and only face off in multi-national events. India last toured Pakistan in 2005/06. However, Pakistan visited India for the 2016 T20 World Cup, playing all their matches in Kolkata.
