'This isn't our call, we need to take clearance from Govt' - Roger Binny clears air on Asia Cup 2023 venue issue

The new Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Roger Binny has cleared the air on India's decision to travel Pakistan for 2023 Asia Cup. On October 18, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced that India will not be traveling to Pakistan for the scheduled 2023 Asia Cup and also stated that the tournament will be played on a neutral venue.

India last traveled to Pakistan in 2008 and their international meetings are restricted to only Asia Cup and ICC tournaments on neutral venues lately. Both neighboring countries have poor political and diplomatic relations and that seems to have clearly affected cricket as well. Shah's comments irked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) members and former cricketers are reportedly saying to walk away from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). 

But Binny has now clarified the raising issue saying that it's not BCCI's call not to travel to Pakistan as they need a traveling clearance from the government.

"That isn’t our call. We can’t say where our team has to go. We need to take clearance from Govt if we leave the country, or other countries come here. We can’t take that decision on our own, we’ve to rely on govt," Binny said as quoted by The Indian Express.

Pakistan was awarded theAsia Cup rights with overwhelming support from ACC: PCB

Shah, who is President at ACC, announced that the 2023 Asia Cup will be played at a neutral venue, after getting re-elected as BCCI Secretary in the board's annual general meeting in Mumbai on October 18. PCB officials put in the statement regarding Shah's comments on October 19 stating that Pakistan were awarded Asia Cup hosting rights after overwhelming support from the ACC board members.

“The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment of yesterday’s comments made by the ACC President Mr Jay Shah with regards to shifting of next year’s Asia Cup to a neutral venue. 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 overwhelming support and response from the ACC Board Members, Mr Shah’s statement of shifting of the ACC Asia Cup has clearly been made unilaterally," PCB said in official statement.

Both Indian and Pakistani cricket teams recently met twice in the 2022 Asia Cup in UAE and are set to clash again in their opening clash at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia on October 23.