The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday clarified that they have no problem with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hosting the Asia Cup T20. The BCCI said that PCB is free to host the tournament, but the Indian cricket team will not go there to play.
“The question isn’t about the PCB hosting the tournament. It is about the venue and as things stand now, it is quite clear that we would need a neutral venue. There is no way that an Indian team can visit Pakistan to even participate in a multi-nation event like the Asia Cup. If the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is ok with an Asia Cup minus India then it is a different ball game. But if India is to participate in the Asia Cup, then the venue cannot be Pakistan,” the BCCI official made statement.
The Asia Cup was to be held in India in 2018, but Pakistani players had a visa problem and that is why the Asia Cup was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and hosted by the BCCI. The official said that PCB can do the same.
There was no international cricket played in Pakistan since the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by terrorists in Pakistan in 2009, but Sri Lanka recently visited Pakistan and Bangladesh is currently on tour.
Team India has not played in Pakistan since 2008. Also, Pakistan’s team did not come to India after 2012.
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