After 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 Team India will not travel to Pakistan for next year’s Asia Cup and would insist that the tournament is shifted to a neutral venue.
Responding to the same, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a statement in which it said that PCB members are disappointed with the comment made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. The board even said that BCCI should have consulted with them or the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) before coming to any conclusion.
“The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment yesterday’s comments made by the ACC President 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,” PCB was quoted as saying in a press release.
“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, 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 its Members and organise, develop, and promote the game of cricket in Asia,” PCB added.
The statement further stated that BCCI’s decision has the potential to split the Asian and international cricket communities as well as Pakistan’s visit to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup and other ICC events.
“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 or clarification from the ACC on the statement of the ACC President. As such, the PCB has now requested the Asian Cricket Council to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible to discuss this important and sensitive matter,” concluded PCB.
Meanwhile, India will take on Pakistan in their first match of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday, October 23.