PCB officially responded to Jay Shah’s announcement of a Neutral Venue for Asia Cup 2023 and claims that the decision 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.
Jay Shah Announced Neutral Venue for Asia Cup 2023
As per the International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Programme, Asia Cup 2023 was originally set to be played under the care of PCB.
“We’ll have Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue. It’s the govt which decides over the permission of our team visiting Pakistan so we won’t comment on that but for the 2023 Asia Cup, it is decided that the tournament will be held at a neutral venue,” the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah told media after the 91st Annual General Meeting in Mumbai.
PCB Responds to Jay Shah
The Pakistan Cricket Board has issued the following statement following the Asian Cricket Council President Mr. Jay Shah’s remarks on Tuesday:
“The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment of yesterday’s comments made by the ACC President Mr. Jay Shah with regards to shifting of next year’s Asia Cup to a neutral venue.
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 without any thoughts toward their long-term consequences and implications.
“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 clearly 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 organise, 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.
“The PCB has to date not received any official communication or clarification from the ACC on the statement of the ACC President. As such, the PCP has now requested the Asian Cricket Council to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible to discuss this important and sensitive matter. ”
Younis Khan on PCB’s Announcement
Speaking on ARY News, former Pakistan captain Younis Khan feels that Shah shouldn’t have made the statement, highlighting that he not only represents the BCCI but the ACC as well.
“Jay Shah shouldn’t have said all this because he not only represents the BCCI but the also ACC. ACC not only consist of India but Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan also. The fans all over the world always eagerly wait for the clash between India and Pakistan and I think Jay Shah should have waited before making such a statement,” he said.
Younis Khan requested PCB to stay strong in this decision. “Now, I would like the PCB to take a strong stand on this issue as it is the time to show our strength. Next year the ODI World Cup will be in India, what if we say that we will not be playing in India, then there will be no fun.
The event should not be shifted to a neutral venue, otherwise, we won’t be a part of it. Earlier also we took a stand and Australia, New Zealand, and England toured Pakistan”.
