As a power move, Ramiz Raja, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board has had to made a decision regarding the current chaos regarding the 2023 Asia Cup. Since India has rejected to come to Pakistan under the guise of security reasons, there is an uproar behind the venue for the next year’s tournament.
Tough decisions because of political tension in India and their iron fist on the BCCI affairs, Indian cricketers aren’t able to make this decision for themselves. Their decisions are made by their cricket board, Indian cricket board decide that their team will not come to Pakistan after pressure from their government.
2023 Asia Cup Venue Issue
The hosting rights for the 2023 Asia Cup were given to Pakistan fair and square. Today, Ramiz Raja, the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board announced that if the hosting rights were withdrawn from Pakistan because of India, Pakistan will not attend Asia Cup.
Ramiz Raja said, “It’s not as if we don’t have hosting rights and we’re pleading to host it,” Ramiz said on the sidelines of the Pakistan-England Test in Rawalpindi. “We won the rights fair and square. If India doesn’t come, they won’t come. If the Asia Cup gets taken away from Pakistan, maybe we’re the ones that pull out.”
Jay Shah the BCCI Secretary and the President of the Asian Cricket Council revealed that after an annua meeting of the Indian cricket board, he decided the 2023 Asia Cup would be held at a neutral venue as the decision for India’s visit to Pakistan would be decided by their Home Ministry and not their cricket board.
Ramiz Raja further said on the issue, “We’ve shown we can host great teams. I can understand issues relating to bilateral cricket, but the Asia Cup is a multi-nation tournament, almost as big as the World Cup for the Asian bloc. Why give it to us in the first place and then make all those statements about India not travelling to Pakistan? I accept that India won’t come because the government won’t allow them to come – fine. But to take the Asia Cup away from the host on that basis isn’t right.”
“You saw what happened in the World Cup – 90,000 fans turned up [at MCG]. I am just a little disappointed with the ICC. When the point was put to the FIFA president why is the US playing Iran, Iran has so many issues regarding women’s rights, he picked up the football and said this can solve a lot of issues. Through sport we can take care of the tribe mentality. I feel let bat and ball talk.”
If India doesn’t come to Pakistan, Pakistan team would not visit India for the 2023 ODI World Cup as well.