Former cricket players on the opposite side of the border did not take kindly to Jay Shah’s statement that India would not be traveling Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023 and that the competition would be moved to a neutral venue the next year.
Things have quickly heated up as a result of the PCB officially commenting on the ACC’s choice, calling an emergency meeting, and threatening to pull out of the World Cup the following year.
In addition, Anurag Thakur, India’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, has added new information to the BCCI vs. PCB Asia Cup dispute by asserting that India is not in a position to listen to anyone, which is likely to elicit stronger responses from Pakistan.
Mudassar Nazar, a former Pakistan all-rounder, reacted angrily to the entire scenario by criticising the BCCI and calling on the PCB to boycott all cricket matches against India in the days leading up to their T20 World Cup match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
However, since 2012, India and Pakistan have avoided playing bilateral series and have solely participated in ICC competitions because of the political tensions between the two countries. However, Mudassar thinks that things have reached a crisis point and that the PCB needs to make a strong statement. The best course of action would be to stop all future cricket matches between India and Pakistan.
“Pakistan could not get support from other boards on issues with India because the purpose of other boards is to fill their own pockets. We must now make our own decisions without regard to financial blackmail. I believe we should now refuse to play India at any level,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Mudassar singled out Shah and said that the ACC secretary had interfered excessively in the recent resignation of Sourav Ganguly as BCCI president. The ACC partnership between India and Pakistan has existed for a very long time, but Mudassar believes that if current events continue, there may be a negative influence on the relations.
“Looking at what happened with Ganguly in the recent Indian board elections, it is clear that the BJP is interfering in India’s and the Asian Cricket Council’s affairs. Regarding the Asia Cup, ACC President Jay Shah appears to be constantly overstepping. This attitude may turn out to be harmful to the ACC,” the Pakistan legend pointed out.