Maybe Pakistan Cricket needs India but we can run without them: Harbhajan Singh

Due to the prevailing political tensions between India and Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier said that they will not travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup. Following that, Pakistan Cricket Board also hit back at BCCI and said that if the Indian team doesn't travel to Pakistan, they too would boycott the ICC ODI World Cup which is scheduled to be played in India later this year. 

While speaking to ANI, veteran India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was asked about the possibility of PCB skipping the ODI World Cup in India if BCCI doesn't agree to play the Asia Cup in Pakistan. The 42-year-old cricketer said that India will not travel to Pakistan due to security reasons. He went on to say that if they want to travel to India they can and if they are not willing, India won’t care about it. 

“India shouldn’t travel to Pakistan as it isn’t safe there and why are we taking risk of traveling when their own people do not feel secure in their country? I feel if they want to come, come and if they don’t want to come we don’t care. Maybe Pakistan Cricket needs India but we can run without them,” Harbhajan told ANI.

Akhtar wants Sri Lanka to host Asia Cup if it is taken out of Pakistan

Earlier on Wednesday, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar made some comments regarding the change in the Asia Cup venue. The veteran pacer said that he wants Sri Lanka to host the Asia Cup if Pakistan’s hosting rights are taken back. The Rawalpindi Express also said that he wanted India and Pakistan to play in the finals of this year’s Asia Cup and the World Cup.

"I want Asia Cup 2023 to be held in Pakistan if not Pakistan then Sri Lanka. I want to see India and Pakistan play the final in Asia Cup and World Cup. Nothing else should happen in world cricket just India and Pakistan finals," Akhtar said.

Amidst the hotch-potch regarding the Asia Cup venue, any change in it will only be decided in the second round of the Executive Board Meeting of ACC members which is supposed to be held later in March.

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