 Show Pakistani cricket authorities hinted Wednesday they may pull out of next year's World Cup in India, a day after officials there said they would not send a team to the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan. Indian cricket board secretary Jay Shah -- who is also president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) -- said Tuesday that India "can't" send a team to Pakistan, adding the tournament would be moved to a neutral venue. His announcement caught Pakistan by surprise, with officials warning it could "split" the international cricket community. Despite being considered one of sport's greatest rivalries, India and Pakistan have not met on home soil in any version of the game since 2012, and only play each other in multinational tournaments on neutral grounds. The two nations have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent's partition in 1947 and are bitter political rivals. "The Asia Cup will be held at a neutral venue," Shah told reporters in Mumbai Tuesday following a meeting of the Board for Control of Indian Cricket (BCCI). "I am saying this as ACC president. We can't go there (to Pakistan), they can't come here." The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reacted angrily on Wednesday. "The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment yesterday's comments made by the ACC President Mr Shah with regards to shifting of next year's Asia Cup to a neutral venue," it said. "The comments were made without any discussion or consultation with the board of the ACC or the PCB, and without any thoughts towards their long-term consequences and implications." "The overall impact of such statements have the potential to split the Asian and international cricketing communities," the PCB added. - 'Sensitive matter' -The Pakistan board said it has not received any official communication from the ACC, and noted that hosting rights for the 2023 Asia Cup had been given to Pakistan under Shah's leadership. "Mr Shah's statement of shifting of the ACC Asia Cup has clearly been made unilaterally," the PCB said, and called for an emergency meeting of the Asian Board "as soon as practically possible on this important and sensitive matter". The PCB said Shah's comments "can impact Pakistan's visit to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and future ICC Events in India in the 2024-2031 cycle". Pakistan and India are due to meet Sunday in Melbourne in the Twenty20 World Cup. The news from India sparked anger in cricket-mad Pakistan, including from former captain Shahid Afridi, who said the players had worked hard over the last two years to develop "excellent comradery". "Why BCCI Secy will make this statement on the eve of #T20WorldCup match?" he tweeted. "Reflects lack of cricket administration experience in India." abh-slb/sh-fox/qan Days after Indian cricket board secretary Jay Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), said that India cannot send a team to Pakistan for 2023 Asia Cup, Pakistan hinted that they may pull out of next year's World Cup in India. Jay Shah had also said that tournament would be moved to a neutral venue. The Pakistani officials have also warned that it could “split" the international cricket community. Despite being considered one of the sport's greatest rivalries, India and Pakistan have not met on home soil in any version of the game since 2012, and only play each other in multinational tournaments on neutral grounds. Since the two countries independence, India and Pakistan have fought three wars and have been bitter political rivals. WHAT DID JAY SHAH SAY?After a meeting of the Board for Control of Indian Cricket (BCCI), Jay Shah said, "The Asia Cup will be held at a neutral venue. I am saying this as ACC president. We can't go there [to Pakistan], they can't come here." Reacting to Jay Shah’s remarks, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said, The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment yesterday's comments made by the ACC President Mr Shah with regards to shifting of next year's Asia Cup to a neutral venue." "The comments were made without any discussion or consultation with the board of the ACC or the PCB, and without any thoughts towards their long-term consequences and implications. The overall impact of such statements have the potential to split the Asian and international cricketing communities," the PCB said. The Pakistan board also said that it has not received any official confirmation from ACC and the hosting rights for the Asia Cup, which is to be held in 2023, were given to Pakistan under Jay Shah’s leadership who is the President of ACC. The PCB said, "Mr Shah's statement of shifting of the ACC Asia Cup has clearly been made unilaterally", adding that Jay Shah’s comments “can impact Pakistan's visit to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and future ICC Events in India in the 2024-2031 cycle". Pakistan and India are due to meet Sunday in Melbourne in the Twenty20 World Cup. (With agency inputs) Catch all the Sports News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. More Less Which country will host 2023 Asia Cup cricket?The hosting rights of the 2023 edition of the 50-over Asia Cup has been awarded to Pakistan by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) as a pre-cursor to the marquee World Cup in India.
Is Asia Cup 2023 T20 or ODI?We can't take that decision on our own, we've to rely on government." The Asia Cup in 2023 will be a 50-over event as it will be used to prepare for the ODI World Cup in India next year.
Who will Host the Next Asia Cup?Flagship tournaments are supposed to be held in Pakistan as the Asian giants will host the forthcoming edition of the Asia Cup in 2023 followed by the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. "We will have Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue.
Will India play Asia Cup 2023?MUMBAI: On the day he started his second term as BCCI secretary, Jay Shah made it clear India "will not travel to Pakistan" for the 2023 Asia Cup, reports Gaurav Gupta. "It will be held at a neutral venue.
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