As informed earlier, the meeting regarding Asia Cup’s hosting rights was reportedly held in Bahrain between BCCI secretary & ACC President Jay Shah and PCB chairman Najam Sethi has concluded. The BCCI and PCB were at odds over the Asia Cup 2023 hosting rights. Whilst still Pakistan is determined to host the tournament, the BCCI has confirmed in not sending team India to the neighboring country.
“Jay is in Bahrain for the ACC meeting. The BCCI’s stand will not change. We will not be travelling to Pakistan as we haven’t got any go-ahead from the government,” a BCCI source told PTI.
Jay Shah, the secretary of the Indian cricket board and the president of the Asian Cricket Council, was in Bahrain for an emergency meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The PCB requested an emergency meeting to discuss the Asia Cup hosting rights. However, ACC President Jay Shah, who is also the BCCI Secretary, has sent a clear message to PCB President Najam Sethi that the Asia Cup will not be held in Pakistan in September. Instead, the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka are two potential alternatives.
If at all, the tournament will be moved to the UAE, with the PCB retaining the hosting rights, or to Sri Lanka. Recent bomb blasts in Peshawar are also said to have raised security concerns about holding cricket tournaments in Pakistan.