Pakistan has the hosting rights for the 2023 Asia Cup©AFP
A huge controversy arises regarding Pakistan’s hosting rights for the 2023 Asia Cup 2023. The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jay Shah, had previously said that India will not travel to the neighboring country while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not willing to give up the chance to host the continental tournament. Despite holding a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council in Bahrain on Saturday, the boards were unable to reach a conclusion and will meet again in March. While cricket experts expressed their views on the matter, former Pakistani skipper Salman Butt appeared to be agitated by the ACC, calling the Asia Cup a “cup of tea”.
“The Asia Cup has become like a cup of tea because it is offered to everyone. We will have to wait until March. But it is something that everyone has no control over. There is a lot of speculation. I hope things get better and the problem is resolved amicably,” Butt said in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel.
Najam Sethi, the president of the PCB, has reportedly told BCCI Secretary Jay Shah that his country wants to host the Asia Cup and that if the tournament is moved, Pakistan will not send its team for the men’s ODI World Cup in India .
Sethi’s comments echo those of his predecessor Ramiz Raja, who reiterated that Pakistan could boycott this year’s 50-over World Cup in India if the Asia Cup issue between the two cricket boards was not resolved.
Pakistan was originally awarded the Asia Cup in September this year, but Shah, the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), had said in October last year that the Indian team will not tour Pakistan for the continental tournament due to diplomatic tensions.
The ACC is expected to move the Asia Cup from Pakistan and decide on the alternate venue in March.
With PTI inputs
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