The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) are at loggerheads once again, with Pakistan chief Ramiz Raja threatening to pull out from the 2023 World Cup that’ll be hosted in India.
India was originally scheduled to tour the rival nation for the Asia Cup. However, BCCI secretary Jay Shah later made it clear that the Men in Blue wouldn’t tour Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup.
Notably, Pakistan had been selected as the official host for the 2023 Asia Cup by the Asian Cricket Council (also headed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah).
The 2023 World Cup drama and Pakistan
Shah was quoted as saying at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), “We have decided to play (the Asia Cup) at a neutral venue”.
The potential reasons for deciding not to let PAK host the 2023 Asia Cup may include security concerns and the tense military situation between the nations.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has tried its best to bring international cricket back to their homeland, hosting Australia and England for limited-overs series. Regardless, the hosting rights of the Asia Cup being snatched away will cause them financial losses.
Pakistan is mulling pulling out from the 2023 ODI World Cup that’ll be hosted in India as a response: “The PCB is now prepared to take hard decisions (quit 2023 ODI WC) and play hardball. 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”.
PCB spokesperson quoted to PTI regarding Jay Shah’s decision, “We have nothing to say at the moment. But we’ll look at things and take up this matter at appropriate forums like the ICC board meeting in Melbourne next month”.
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Interestingly, the hosting rights were awarded by the executive board of the Asian Cricket Council and not ACC president Jay Shah alone. Hence, Pakistan has been shaking as Shah stated the Asia Cup will be shifted to a neutral venue like UAE.
Moreover –apart from not participating in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India– Pakistan will also think about canceling its membership from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) if president Jay Shah keeps giving on such statements, told a PCB insider to Press Trust of India (PTI).