- Mar 4, 2024
- Sep 4, 2023
The Asia Cup 2023, which was supposed to be held in Pakistan, will be moved to another venue, as confirmed earlier. According to Indian Cricket Board Secretary Jay Shah, India will not travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup 2023. The announcement came on the same day as the annual general meeting of the Indian Cricket Board in Mumbai.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has now issued a statement revealing that this development was not previously discussed with them. With overwhelming support and response from ACC Board Members, Pakistan was awarded the ACC Asia Cup.
“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 organise, develop, and promote the game of cricket in Asia,” read PCB’s statement.
The PCB has also threatened the Indian Cricket Board of not attending any future events in the country. In addition, the governing board has also requested an emergency meeting of ACC board members to resort the issue at hand.
“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,'” the statement further read.