The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to let the Indian cricket team to travel Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023.
The development came in the final decision made by BCCI on Tuesday. Pakistan has the hosting rights for Asia Cup 2023. Jay Shah, who is also the BCCI Secretary, said that India is open to playing the tournament at a neutral venue but not in Pakistan. Shah is also the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ICC). Earlier, Indian media had reported that BCCI was willing to allow the Indian cricket team to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023.
“The Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a neutral venue,” Shah told the media after the AGM. “I am saying this as ACC President. We [India] can’t go there [to Pakistan], they can’t come here. In the past also Asia Cup has been played at a neutral venue,” said Shah in a statement released on Tuesday.
Read more: Indian team likely to tour Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023
India last toured Pakistan in 2005-2006 for a bilateral series. Since then, the team has not toured Pakistan due to political tensions and security concerns in Pakistan. India and Pakistan played each other in the Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai this year. The teams are again set to play each other in the T20 World Cup later this week.
Cricket fans in Pakistan are staging strong protests regarding the refusal of India to visit Pakistan despite the country having the right to host the event. Fans believe PCB should give a befitting response and should abstain from sending the team to ICC World Cup scheduled in India next year.
Jay Shah (in Cricbuzz) confirms India won't travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 18, 2022
🚨 India will not travel to Pakistan next year for the Asia cup, BCCI
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) October 18, 2022
Next year’s Asia Cup at a neutral venue (not Pakistan) confirms @BCCI secretary Jay Shah
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 18, 2022
Earlier, India’s reputed cricket website had said that BCCI’s meeting agenda includes team India’s tour of Pakistan and other international engagements for next year.
“It will be subject to the clearance of the Government of India as always,” a BCCI official was quoted saying to the Indian website.
Pakistan is scheduled to host 50-over Asia Cup 2023 next year ahead of ICC World Cup in India.