Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated that they will likely pull out of next year’s World Cup in India. His statement came after BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s statement that they would prefer to play the Asia Cup at a neutral venue instead of going to Pakistan.
Pakistan are slated to host the next edition of the Asia Cup next year as per the Asian Cricket Council’s executive board’s decision. Moreover, Shah is the president of the Asian Cricket Council also.
However, sources close to PCB chairman Ramiz Raja shared that one of the options that they could do is to pull out of 50-over ICC World Cup in India next year.
“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,” a senior OCB source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Meanwhile, Team India have played Pakistan at global or continental events but they haven’t travelled to Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Pakistan last came to India for a six-match white-ball bilateral series in 2012 as well.
“We will look at things and take up this matter” – Pakistan board
However, the PCB when contacted declined to give an official reaction to the BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s statement.
“We have nothing to say at the moment but yes we will look at things and take up this matter at appropriate forums like the ICC board meeting in Melbourne next month,” a spokesperson added.
PCB is disappointed about the statement from Jay Shah made yesterday after the AGM meeting. pic.twitter.com/vywtmjea4P
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 19, 2022
However, it has been shared that PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja and other senior officials were very upset with this statement by Jay Shah that India would not travel to Pakistan next year and he had also decided to take some tough call now.
“The PCB officials are surprised at the timing of Jay Shah’s statement because there is still nearly a year to go before the Asia Cup is held in Pakistan in September 2023,” one insider again said.
“The PCB is wondering in what capacity has Jay Shah given the statement that the ACC will look to relocate the Asia Cup to UAE out of Pakistan because the hosting rights were awarded by the executive board of the ACC not the President,” the PCB source said.
The insider also revealed that the PCB had decided to look at several options and they would not accept any disruption to its hosting rights as well.
“One option under consideration will be to pull out of the ACC as the PCB believes the ACC was formed to promote and develop cricket in the region and forge unity among the member nations. But the President of the ACC is going to give statements like these, there is no use for Pakistan to remain in the body,” he added.
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