In a dispute over the venue of next year’s men’s Asia Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are at loggerheads.
A few days ago, Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI and president of the Asian Cricket Council, announced that India would not be attending the Asia Cup in Pakistan; he also announced that a neutral venue would be chosen for the tournament.
According to the PCB, the decision could impact Pakistan’s participation in the ODI World Cup scheduled for India next year. The PCB is not alone in its hard-hitting response; ex-skipper Wasim Akram is also among the cricketers who responded strongly to Jay Shah’s comments.
If Shah had reservations, he should have contacted PCB chairman Ramiz Raja personally, according to the former Pakistan captain.
“Badi zabardast statement di hai cricket board ne. India can’t dictate ki Pakistan kaise cricket khele. Aur Pakistan me cricket bhi 10-15 saal baad shuru hui hai. I’m an ex-cricketer, sportsperson, I don’t know what’s happening on political front. But people to people contact zaroori hai. Agar aapko kehna hi tha Jay Shah sahab, toh aap kam se kam hamaare chairman ko phone karte, meeting bithaate Asian Council ki. Aap apna idea dete, uspe discussion hoti. (Our cricket board made a brilliant statement. As an ex-cricketer and sportsperson, I am unaware of what’s going on on the political front. Pakistan started hosting teams after 10-15 years now. If Jay Shah had to say something, he should have contacted the PCB chairman and had an Asian Cricket Council meeting. There should have been a discussion), Akram said on A Sports.
Akram continued, “We can’t just stand up and say we’re not traveling. Jabki award kiya hai poore council ne Pakistan ko Asia Cup.
According to Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s bowling legend, India “want to damage” Pakistan, adding that a country’s dignity is more important than playing cricket.
