PCB’s Governing body says that Mr. Shah’s statement about shifting the Asia Cup has been made unilaterally
The Pakistan Cricket Board has strongly responded to the news of the BCCI demanding the 2023 Asia Cup to be moved out of Pakistan to a neutral venue while the PCB accused Jay Shah, the ACC president and also the BCCI secretary; of taking the decision ‘unilaterally’.
India had demanded a neutral venue for next year’s Asia Cup which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan. After the Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai on Tuesday (October 18), the BCCI concluded that it will not travel to Pakistan for the continental championship and demanded that the tournament is moved to a neutral venue.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has strongly responded to the news of the BCCI demanding the 2023 Asia Cup to be moved out of Pakistan to a neutral venue.
The PCB accused Jay Shah, the ACC president and also the BCCI secretary; of taking the decision ‘unilaterally’ and that it can affect Pakistan’s future visits to India for ICC events, including the ODI World Cup next year.
“The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment yesterday’s comments made by the ACC President Jay Shah with regards to shifting of next year’s Asia Cup to a neutral venue,”
the governing body said in a statement on Wednesday (October 19).
“The comments were made without any discussion or consultation with the Board of the Asian Cricket Council or the Pakistan Cricket Board (event host) and any thoughts towards their long-term consequences and implication.
“After having presided over the ACC meeting during which Pakistan was awarded the ACC Asia Cup with overwhelming support and response from the ACC Board Members, Mr. Shah’s statement of shifting of the ACC Asia Cup has been made unilaterally. This is contrary to the philosophy and spirit for which the Asian Cricket Council was formed in September 1983 – a united Asian cricket body to safeguard the interests of its members and organize, develop and promote the game of cricket in Asia.
“The overall impact of such statements have the potential to split the Asian and international cricketing communities, and can impact Pakistan’s visit to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and future ICC Events in India in the 2024-2031 cycle,”
it added.
“Neutral venue for the Asia Cup is not unprecedented and we have decided that we will not travel to Pakistan,”
Shah, the ACC president and also the secretary of the BCCI, had said.
“I have decided that we will play at a neutral venue,”
he added.
The PCB said it has now kept in touch with the ACC board for an emergency meeting on the ‘sensitive’ matter.
“The PCB has to date not received any official communication from the ACC on the statement of the ACC President. As such, the PCB has written to the ACC to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible on this important and sensitive matter.”