BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday confirmed that India will not travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023. Notably, Pakistan is scheduled to host the next edition of Asia Cup as per Asian Cricket Council's executive board's decision. After the BCCI AGM in Mumbai, Shah confirmed that reporters that "India will play the Asia Cup at a neutral venue."
However, soon after the statement, the reports of Pakistan boycotting the 2023 ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in India, started flooding in. Sources close to PCB chairman Ramiz Raja said that the board will pull out of the 50-over ICC World Cup in India if BCCI will ask for venue change for Asia Cup 2023.
"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 PCB source told PTI.
Meanwhile, Ramiz Raja's old video has now resurfaced where he gave a stern statement on India’s unwillingness to come to Pakistan. During an interview, a Pakistani journalist asked what will the board do if BCCI manage to shift Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue? The PCB Chairman looked miffed and said, “Bharat ki wajeh se har cheez nhi hoti, kuch hum bhi hai (India will not control everything, we are also something)”.
India and Pakistan are set to play for the third time this year as they will take on each other in T20 World Cup 2022 clash on October 23 at MCG.