The controversy related to hosting the 16th edition of Asia Cup which is slated to be held in September this year is brewing hot and cold every passing day. The latest to speak on the heated controversy is former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who feels that Pakistan is ready to host the tournament and has requested the BCCI to keep aside the prevailing political tensions between India and Pakistan and send Team India to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, reports from last month ACC meeting revealed that UAE would be the new venue for the Asia Cup 2023 with Pakistan reserving the hosting rights.
Meanwhile, as reports surfaced last month, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has revealed that the UAE will be hosting all the matches involving India, with Pakistan reserving the hosting rights and hosting the remaining matches. If India makes it to the final, then it will be hosted in Dubai. If not, then the final will be hosted by a Pakistani city.
Earlier, in January this year, the ACC announced that the tournament, which got postponed in 2021 due to a packed international calendar; has been rescheduled to be played in September this year merely two months before the 50-over World Cup that will be hosted solely by India. However, the BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, gave his remarks on the hosting rights saying, “India won’t travel to Pakistan, due to security reasons,” following which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) retaliated saying, “If India doesn’t come to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, then Pakistan might pull out of the ODI World Cup to be held in India. Following the BCCI’s take on not touring Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023, veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi said, “You send the Indian team to Pakistan, and we will welcome them with great pleasure. Before this, an Indian from Mumbai—I won’t take his name—had threatened Pakistan that they won’t be allowed in India. But, we kept it all aside, and our government had taken it up as a responsibility, and the Pakistan team did go to India. So, threats should not ruin our relationship. Threats will remain.”
Referring to the leaders, Afridi said he would call upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve relations between the neighbours so that India and Pakistan can resume playing cricket.
“The leaders will have to sit together and take full responsibility because this is the solution. I would request Mr Modi to improve the relations between India and Pakistan and arrange a match between the two teams.” In addition, India last travelled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup. But, after the political tension rose between the two nations, both teams never played any bilateral series post-2012 and only met in ICC or ACC events.