The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given a false and misleading impression about the players being ignored for the T20 games between the Asia XI and World XI, which is organised by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to celebrate the birth centenary of ‘Bongobondhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who is the founder of Bangladesh. The two matches, which will be given the official status by the International Cricket Council (ICC), will take place on March 16 and 20 in Dhaka under the BCB and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

“The T20Is between World XI and Asia XI were scheduled from March 16-20, while the HBL PSL 2020 is likely to end on March 22. Since dates of both the series couldn’t be changed, we offered our regrets to the BCB, both verbally and in writing, which they understood and accepted,” a PCB spokesperson said. “It is unfortunate that the facts were twisted to mislead Pakistan cricket fans and followers.”

On Thursday, BCCI Joint Secretary Jayesh George said to IANS that such a scenario where both India and Pakistan players wouldn’t play in the Asia XI because the message is that there will be no Pakistan players invited.

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“What we are aware of is that there will be no Pakistan players in the Asia XI. That is what the message is, so, there is no question of both countries coming together or picking one over the other. Sourav Ganguly will decide the five players who will be a part of the Asia XI,” he said.

PCB chief Ehsan Mani had earlier lashed out at the Indian government saying that the current security situation in India is worse than in Pakistan.

“We have proved Pakistan is safe, if someone isn’t coming then they should prove that it’s unsafe. At this time, India is a far greater security risk than Pakistan,” Mani said.