Jay Shah's statement can impact Pakistan's visit to India in 2023 WC

|| CF DESK ||

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday responded to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after BCCI secretary Jay Shah had said that the Asia Cup 2023 should be shifted to a neutral venue instead of Pakistan.

The PCB has warned that such consequences will have a negative impact on future tours. The 50-over World Cup 2023 is set to held in India.

“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 statement reads.

Asia Cricket Council president Jay Shah, who is also the BCCI secretary told that India would refuse to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup, and put forward the possibility of the tournament being staged at a neutral venue.

“A neutral venue for Asia Cup is not unprecedented and we have decided that we will not travel to Pakistan. I have decided that we will play at a neutral venue,” Shah said.

PCB, however, say they were not consulted before Shah’s statement. “The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment of 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 its Members and organise, develop, and promote the game of cricket in Asia,”