ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has called for an emergency meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after its President Jay Shah’s remarks regarding shifting the 2023 Asia Cup to a neutral venue.
Jay Shah, who is also the secretary of BCCI, stated India will not travel to Pakistan next year to play in the Asia Cup and demanded to move the tournament to a neutral venue.
PCB is surprised and disappointed over his remarks stating, “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,” the board added.
PCB stressed the statement by Jay Shah 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 organize, develop, and promote the game of cricket in Asia,” the statement added.
“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.
PCB has called for an emergency meeting of ACC particularly for this matter. “The PCB has to date not received any official communication or clarification from the ACC on the statement of the ACC President. As such, the PCB has now requested the Asian Cricket Council to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible to discuss this important and sensitive matter.”
