Reports: Pakistan to pull out from 2023 World Cup if India pushes for neutral venue for next Asia Cup

Earlier today (October 18), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah told reporters that India will not travel to Pakistan, where 2023 Asia Cup is all set to be played, and also confirmed that India will play at a neutral venue. In retort, the recent reports are suggesting that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will try to boycott the 2023 World Cup in India as their reaction to Shah's comment.

Pakistan are set to host the 2023 Asia Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy as per ICC's FTP calender. Indian team hasn't played in Pakistan since 2008 due to political tensions between the two nation's. And now Shah's statement has further raised the tensions between Indian and Pakistan cricket. 

A senior PCB source has revealed that PCB is going to protest against Shah's comments in the next ICC board meeting scheduled in Melbourne next month.

“The PCB is now prepared to take hard decisions and play hardball because it is also aware that the ICC and ACC events will have to face commercial liabilities and losses if Pakistan does not play India in these multi-team events. We have nothing to say at the moment but yes we will look at things and take up this matter at appropriate forums like the ICC board meeting in Melbourne next month," a senior PCB source said as quoted by News 18.

There is no use for Pakistan to remain in the body: PCB source

Many Pakistani fans and former cricketers, including Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi are reacting to Shah's statement angrily. The former iconic opener, in his recent tweet, stated that PCB should be looking to demand for a neutral venue for the scheduled 2023 one-day World Cup in India. The former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also took a dig at BCCI secretary on October 18. Afridi stated that both nations' relationships have improved in the last 12 months and now Shah's statement proves the lack of cricket administration experience in India

When excellent comradery between the 2 sides in the past 12 months has been established that has created good feel-good factor in the 2 countries, why BCCI Secy will make this statement on the eve of #T20WorldCup match? Reflects lack of cricket administration experience in India

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) October 18, 2022

And now, PCB source has also confirmed that they don't understand the timing and on what basis Shah has given the statement and will consider pulling out of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) body.

“The PCB officials are surprised at the timing of Jay Shah’s statement because there is still nearly a year to go before the Asia Cup is held in Pakistan in September 2023. The PCB is wondering in what capacity has Jay Shah given the statement that the ACC will look to relocate the Asia Cup to UAE out of Pakistan because the hosting rights were awarded by the executive board of the ACC not the President.

“One option under consideration will be to pull out of the ACC as the PCB believes the ACC was formed to promote and develop cricket in the region and forge unity among the member nations. But the President of the ACC is going to give statements like these, there is no use for Pakistan to remain in the body," the PCB source added.