Srinagar: Just days before India vs Pakistan high profile clash of T20 World Cup 2022, BCCI Secretary and Asian Cricket Council President Jay Shah has dropped a bombshell by announcing that Team India will not travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023.
The hosting rights for the 2023 Asia Cup have been given to Pakistan and will require teams to travel to Pakistan.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who started a second term in office on Tuesday, said the Asia Cup will now have to be held somewhere else.
“The Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a neutral venue. I am saying this as ACC President. We [India] can’t go there [to Pakistan], they can’t come here. In the past also, the Asia Cup has been played at a neutral venue,” Shah said after the 91st BCCI annual general meeting in Mumbai flanked by newly elected BCCI President Roger Binny.
Shah stressed that on the issue of playing with Pakistan, there is a policy in place and the BCCI will follow that.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, seated next to Shah, explained that the Board will need the government clearance to play Pakistan.
India last travelled to Pakistan for a bilateral series in 2005-06 under the captaincy of current Team India coach Rahul Dravid. However, India did travel to Pakistan in 2008 to compete in the Asia Cup.