Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision not to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup next year. He also questioned BCCI secretary Jay Shah for saying this ahead of the highly-anticipated India-Pakistan match at the T20 World Cup. Afridi even questioned India’s cricket administration as well.
The former Pakistan captain wrote on Twitter: “When excellent comradery between the two sides in the past 12 months has been established that has created good feel-good factor in the two countries, why BCCI Secy will make this statement on the eve of T20 World Cup match? Reflects lack of cricket administration experience in India.”
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However, in BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday (October 18), Shah said that India will play Asia Cup at a neutral venue. As per a Cricbuzz report, he said: “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.”
However, India and Pakistan last played together in the Super four stage of the Asia Cup 2022, held in Dubai. They will take on each other in the Super 12 campaign of the T20 World Cup in Melbourne on Sunday (October 23). Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering withdrawing from the 2023 World Cup slated to take place in India in retaliation. As per Geo News, PCB is also considering pulling out of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after BCCI’s decision on Asia Cup as well.
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Speaking to PTI on condition of anonymity, a PCB source said: “The PCB is now prepared to take hard decisions and play hard ball because it is also aware that the ICC and ACC events will have to face commercial liabilities and losses if Pakistan does not play India in these multi-team events.”
However, India will host the ODI World Cup in October-November next year as well.
