Muscat: The Indian cricket team won’t be travelling to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Jay Shah said on Tuesday.
The 2023 Asia Cup is slated to be hosted by Pakistan and earlier reports had suggested that the BCCI [Indian cricket board] was open to sending the team to participate in the tournament.
Shah, who is also the BCCI secretary, confirmed that Indian wouldn’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the 91st BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the Indian city of Mumbai on Tuesday, he said that the 2023 Asia Cup may be played in a neutral venue and not Pakistan.
Besides the Asia Cup 2023, Pakistan are set to host the the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
“We will have Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue. It’s the government which [makes a decision regarding] the team visiting Pakistan so we won’t comment on that – but for the 2023 Asia Cup, it’s decided that the tournament will be held at some neutral venue,” Shah told reporters.
Only the Asia Cup continental tournament and ICC events bring India and Pakistan together. It has been over ten years since they last competed in a bilateral series; India, a former global champion, last travelled to Pakistan in 2008 to compete in the Asia Cup.
