PCB condemns BCCI's decision, seeks urgent ACC meeting

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has condemned BCCI's decision of not sending team India to Pakistan for 2023 Asia Cup and sought an emergency meeting with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah, who is also ACC president, on Tuesday in board's Annual General Meeting said that "neutral venue for Asia Cup is not unprecedented and we have decided that we will not travel to Pakistan."

In a statement, PCB on Wednesday said: "The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment, yesterday's comments made by the ACC President Jay 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 Asian Cricket Council or the Pakistan Cricket Board (event host) and without any thoughts towards their long-term consequences and implications.

“After having presided over the ACC meeting during which Pakistan was awarded the ACC Asia Cup with an overwhelming support and response from the ACC Board Members, Shah’s statement of shifting of the ACC Asia Cup has clearly been made unilaterally.

"This is contrary to the philosophy and spirit for which the Asian Cricket Council was formed in September 1983 – a united Asian cricket body to safeguard the interests of the its Members and organise, develop, and promote the game of cricket in Asia.

"The overall impact of such statements have the potential to split the Asian and international cricketing communities, and 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.

The PCB said it has written a letter to the ACC board for an emergency meeting on the matter.

"The PCB has to date not received any official communication from the ACC on the statement of the ACC President. As such, the PCB has written to the ACC to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible on this important and sensitive matter," the statement added.(UNI)