“This will impact Pakistan’s visit to India for World Cup 2023,” PCB reacts to Jay Shah’s comments

BCCI secretary and also the ACC president, Jay Shah has come to a conclusion that team India will not be travelling to Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup tournament scheduled for 2023 in Pakistan.

The upcoming event of Asia Cup will be a 50-over format game, unlike this year’s T20 format, so as to prepare the players for ICC World Cup. Jay Shah has insisted on a neutral venue for the Asia Cup.

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“Neutral venue for Asia Cup is not unprecedented and we have decided that we will not travel to Pakistan,” Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI and also the president of the ACC, said. “I have decided that we will play at a neutral venue,” Shah said.

The officials of PCB claimed Jay Shah’s comments to be a disappointing suggestion by the BCCI secretary and also stated that it will impact further events against India or in Indian venues.

“The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment 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 the its Members and organize, 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.

“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 matter.”