According to a source, Pakistan threatened to boycott the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which is set to be hosted in India later this year, if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would not let the Men in Blue to compete in the Asia Cup 2023. A source claims that the Men in Green want to play their World Cup games in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka.
The World Cup 2023 is scheduled for this year’s October-November. The specific schedule has not yet been released by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
According to a PCB source who spoke to ANI, “Yes, we are considering canceling our World Cup matches in India if BCCI doesn’t send its squad to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. We prefer to play in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh rather than India as the venue for our matches.
A source claims that Pakistan will not go to India for the World Cup and instead prefers that Sri Lanka or Bangladesh host their games. A few days ago, it was reported by a reliable source that India will play its Asia Cup games at a neutral site rather than go to Pakistan. India will compete at a neutral site if it advances to the final with Pakistan.
Also, it was previously speculated that Bangladesh rather than India, the tournament’s initial host, may be the location for Pakistan’s matches at the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023, according to ESPNCricinfo.
Bangladesh has been suggested as the site because to its near proximity to India in discussions that might result in Pakistan moving their games to a neutral location.
For this year’s Asia Cup, a hybrid model is being considered as a remedy. India’s matches are most likely to be held in a neutral location despite Pakistan serving as the tournament’s initial host this year.
The concept emerged during a break at a board meeting in Dubai. Members from the two Boards discussed Pakistan’s participation in the 50-over World Cup and India’s participation in the Asia Cup.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has noted that India’s absence from the Asia Cup might have an influence on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will also be hosted in Pakistan, despite the fact that it has just been suggested as a possibility and no official conversations have occurred on the matter.
India and Pakistan have been placed in the same qualifying group for the six-nation Asia Cup, which will be contested in a 50-over format in the first half of September this year. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are included in the other category.
When Jay Shah revealed that the 2023 Asia Cup will take place in a “neutral” location, the PCB was taken off guard. When the tournament was moved outside of Pakistan, the PCB, then led by Ramiz Raja, swiftly reacted that Pakistan will withdraw from the event.
The Asia Cup will be played at a neutral location, which will be decided in the second round of the Executive Board meeting of ACC members, according to Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairperson Jay Shah, who previously stated that India will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament due to security concerns.