The Indian Cricket Board appears to be confident in moving the entire Asia Cup from Pakistan to a neutral venue in 2023. Jay Shah, the Board’s secretary, had already stated that India will not be travelling to Pakistan for the upcoming tournament. However, India’s cricket board appears to be adamant about shifting the entire tournament away from the hosts’ country.
In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threatened to withdraw from the ODI World Cup 2023 in India or to play their matches at a neutral venue, which the Indian Cricket Board dismissed as “pressure tactics.
“We understand that this is a kind of pressure tactic applied by PCB because of the Asia Cup issue. But let me tell you, ultimately, Asia Cup will also be played in UAE or Qatar and probably Pakistan will also have to play its matches in one of these countries,” an Indian Cricket Board spokesperson said.
“As far as Pakistan playing its Asia Cup games in Pakistan is concerned, the budget for the tournament is passed by the Asian Cricket Council. If ACC says that it’s not a commercially viable proposition to hold Asia Cup in two countries, how can Pakistan play its games at home. ACC, for all you know, might not pass the budget,” the spokesperson added.
It was earlier reported that the tournament will be played in a hybrid model. Other teams would play their Asia Cup matches in Pakistan, while the Indian team would play in another country, according to the proposed model.
I don’t think that Pakistan will play their World Cup matches in India: Wasim Khan
According to media reports, Pakistan is now thinking about playing their World Cup matches in a neutral location. “I don’t know if it would take place here on in a different country but a neutral venue is highly likely,” the former CEO of the PCB Wasim Khan said in an interview with a local TV channel.
He added, “I don’t think that Pakistan will play their World Cup matches in India. I think their matches will also be held at a neutral venue just like India’s Asia Cup matches.”
