MUMBAI: Former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator Aakash Chopra acknowledged the importance of Pakistan in the Asia Cup, stating it would not be enjoyable without them.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra shared that the decision of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) regarding this year’s Asia Cup did not surprise him much since the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) had refused to travel to Pakistan.
“I am not a wee bit surprised because India had refused to go and they are not going. Pakistan will also come to play the World Cup, there is no doubt about that because you cannot do like that in ICC events that you won’t play,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.
Aakash Chopra also insisted on the importance of Pakistan in the Asia Cup and acknowledged it would not be enjoyable without them by referring to a pizza without a topping.
“You can flex your muscles slightly in the Asia Cup, you can say that you won’t play and that other teams can play without you if they want. Asia Cup without Pakistan is like pizza without the topping,” said Chopra.
“It won’t be enjoyable. So you want Pakistan to be there in the Asia Cup,” he added.
It is worth mentioning here that after a year-long tug-of-war between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and BCCI regarding the venue of the Asia Cup, the continental council has finally opted to choose to go with the hybrid model and announced the schedule of the Asia Cup 2023.
The multi-national tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka despite massive opposition by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).
The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup features six teams, divided into two groups, the top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super 4s.
Hosts Pakistan are placed in the same group as arch-rivals India and Nepal while the other group includes defending champions and joint-host Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The Asia Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format and will serve as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup.
READ: ‘I want to play and win World Cup for Pakistan,’ says Zulqarnain Haider