The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) have decided that their men’s cricket team will not tour Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023.
The decision was taken in the Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai on Tuesday (October 18), the BCCI arrived at a conclusion that it will not travel to Pakistan for the continental championship and demand that the tournament is moved to a neutral venue.
Ready to play at a neutral venue
India is insisting on a neutral venue for next year’s Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan.
“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 2022 edition of the Asia Cup, allotted to Sri Lanka was held in UAE. The 2023 edition, a 50-over championship, a pre-cursor to the World Cup in India, has been allotted to Pakistan. BCCI had initially kept the option of travelling to Pakistan but Shah clarified that the question does not arise.
The BCCI, however, has deferred a decision over the team’s participation in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which has been allotted to Pakistan, stating that there is a lot of time left for that championship.
Pakistan’s options?
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s high-ups put their heads together after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s secretary Jay Shah said India will not tour Pakistan for Asia Cup next year.
Following the decision, sources said PCB is considering different options to react to India’s decision.
“ACC is responsible to safeguard the interest of member nations. If they fail to do so, there is no point in remaining with them,” it added.
When did India last tour Pakistan?
India last toured Pakistan in 2008 to partake in the Asia Cup.
The two sides last played a bilateral series in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India for three T20Is and as many ODIs. Since then, the two arch-rivals did not play a bilateral series and only met in ICC and ACC events.
Conclusion:
This is not the first time that India has denied touring Pakistan or playing bilateral series. The BCCI always politicized the game, but the people of both countries want to see more encounters between the arch-rivals and that demands serious from the BCCI and the Indian government.
