LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee Najam Sethi on Monday, shared an update regarding Asia Cup 2023, scheduled to be held in Pakistan this year.
The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup has been in jeopardy briefly after Pakistan was rewarded the hosting rights for the event in October as the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) refused to tour the country on political grounds.
Meanwhile, Sethi, who held a press conference here at Gaddafi Stadium alongside chief selector Haroon Rasheed to announce the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan, was asked to provide an update regarding the future of the Asia Cup.
“The situation is still the same. India will not come to Pakistan for Asia Cup. This is a very difficult and tricky situation which is still unresolved,” shared Sethi.
“There are two different matters, one is of ICC and the other is of ACC. This is not only about Asia Cup because we also have to host the Champions Trophy. I will go and talk with both ICC and ACC on this matter,” he added.
Sethi then shared that PCB sought advice from the federal government regarding this matter and stated that the cricket board will consider the decision of their patron – Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr Shehbaz Sharif – regarding this issue.
“I have approached our government to take their point of view on this matter. If our patron [PM Shehbaz Sharif] asks us to go and play World Cup India regardless of whether they come here to play Asia Cup or not, we will have to consider it,” he said.
“So far, our government’s point of view is also the same, if India do not come here, we will also not go there in World Cup. I believe that we have more security concerns in India due to the ongoing communal issues there,” he highlighted.
“So, we need to keep our government and security agencies in loop while making any decision regarding Asia Cup in Pakistan and World Cup in India,” Sethi concluded.
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