Contrary to false reports circulating in the Pakistani media, Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has clarified that he will not be visiting Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2023, either before or after the tournament.
In an interview with News18 CricketNext, Shah stated, “I have not agreed to anything. This is just plain miscommunication. Probably done deliberately or mischievously. I’ll not be making any visit.”
Shah’s comments came after he and Zaka Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), met on the sidelines of an ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Durban. During the meeting, they discussed matters related to the Asia Cup and the 50-over World Cup.
Several Pakistani media outlets have reported that Shah accepted Ashraf’s invitation to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup fixtures. However, Arun Dhumal, the BCCI’s representative at the ICC, denied these reports, stating that neither Shah nor anyone from the BCCI would be travelling to Pakistan.
While Shah strongly refuted the reports of his visit, it is important to note that the “hybrid arrangement” for the Asia Cup tournament will remain unchanged. Under this arrangement, Pakistan will host four matches, while Sri Lanka will host nine, including all knockout matches and the final. This arrangement was initially agreed upon by all parties involved, including the PCB.
A source close to the matter questioned the reports and asked why any Indian official would visit Pakistan when all of India’s matches, including the knockout matches (if they qualify), will be played in Sri Lanka. The source suggested that such reports might be driven by mischievous intentions.
The meeting between Shah and Ashraf focused on discussing the Asia Cup and the upcoming World Cup in India, but there were no discussions about Shah visiting Pakistan. Regarding the World Cup, Pakistan’s matches are scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad as per the tournament’s official schedule, and there are no plans to change this itinerary.
The PCB has already given its approval to the ICC for Pakistan’s participation in the 50-over World Cup in India later this year, and according to BCCI officials, there is no additional information to be added on this matter.
In conclusion, the reports suggesting Jay Shah’s visit to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023 are false. Shah himself has refuted these claims, stating that there was a miscommunication and he has not agreed to any such visit.
The Asia Cup will proceed as planned with a hybrid arrangement, and Pakistan will play their matches in Ahmedabad during the World Cup as scheduled. The PCB has given its approval for Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup, and there are no further updates on this matter.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates
