According to BCCI secretary and Asian Cricket Council president Jay Shah said India will not travel to Pakistan, and the match will be played some alternate place.
Since India won’t be going to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup, it’s unclear where the competition will actually take place. The news broke on the day of the BCCI’s annual general meeting in Mumbai, where Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary and head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), urged that the Asia Cup should be played at a different location in the following year.
Following the BCCI AGM, Shah informed the media that the Asia Cup 2023 would take place at a neutral location. “This is what I’m saying as ACC President. They cannot come here, and neither can we India. Asia Cup matches have previously taken place at a neutral site.”
When Shah addressed the media, the newly elected officers of the BCCI, including president Roger Binny, treasurer Ashish Shelar, and board vice-president Rajiv Shukla, were there.
The ACC has not yet convened to talk about the issue, much less to make a formal decision.
The PCB is now wondering in what capacity Shah was speaking on the subject and why he decided to do so at a BCCI AGM.
A PCB representative stated that the board would not be responding at this time, but a forceful response is not ruled out: for example, there has already been discussion inside the board of leaving the ACC.
Regarding the comments, the PCB is anticipated to write to the ACC.
Shah’s remarks might also have some bearing on two ICC events that will take place in Pakistan and India in the coming years. Pakistan is slated to host the 2025 Champions Trophy, with India hosting the 2023 ODI World Cup shortly after the Asia Cup. It remains to be seen what effect India’s inability to play in Pakistan, and Pakistan’s inability to play in India, will have on those competitions.
Pakistan needed permission from their government to visit India for the 2016 T20 World Cup, and they only received it just in time. It’s unlikely that the ICC will make a statement at this time.
Pakistan’s most recent visit to India was for the 2016 ICC tournament, while India last travelled to Pakistan for the 2008 Asia Cup. Since Pakistan toured India for a white-ball only series in 2012–2013, the two nations have not played any bilateral cricket matches due to tense political tensions.
That hasn’t actually happened. Due to the hostile relations between India and Pakistan, both Pakistan and India withdrew from earlier Asia Cup competitions, and the event was occasionally completely cancelled.
The competition’s final two seasons were held in the United Arab Emirates, which has played host to it a total of four times. At the BCCI AGM, the issue of travelling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup was brought up, and members were informed that it would depend on the approval of the Indian government.
Shukla reaffirmed the claim in a later informal encounter with the media. Shah said that at this moment, India will not be visiting Pakistan.