Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gives a befitting response to President Asian Cricket Council Jay Shah after he announced to shift Asia Cup 2023 from Pakistan to a neutral venue in UAE.
BCCI refused to give clearance to the Indian cricket team to travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023. Soon after Jay Shah, who is also the secretary of BCCI, said that the tournament will be shifted to UAE. The decision triggered anger among cricket fans in Pakistan. Fans demanded PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja give a befitting response to India and fight for Pakistan’s right to host the tournament in the country and not on a neutral venue when other international teams are already visiting Pakistan.
🚨 BCCI Jay Shah comments about a neutral venue could impact a visit of Pakistan Cricket team to India for ICC World Cup 2023 & future ICC events 2024-2031, PCB
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) October 19, 2022
PCB responds to ACC President's statement
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/mOLMp4emI3 pic.twitter.com/wjjQQy4IXa
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 19, 2022
“The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment yesterday’s comments made by the ACC President Mr. Jay Shah with regards to shifting 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 any thoughts towards their long-term consequences and implications,” read the press release by PCB.
Read more: Shaheen Shah Afridi’s lethal yorker injures Afghan’s Rahmanullah
PCB hinted that such decisions and practices might disrupt Asian Cricket Council.
“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.
PCB cast doubt on its participation in the cricketing events scheduled for the 2023-2031 cycle.
“The overall impact of such statements has 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 from the ACC on the statement of the ACC President. As such, the PCB has written to the Asian Cricket Council to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible on this important and sensitive matter,” PCB said further.