Pakistan are set to host the Asia Cup 2023 this year. However, the Indian Cricket Board president Jai Shah has decided not to send team India to Pakistan for the tournament. After India’s refusal, there was an uproar in the Pakistan Cricket Board. Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja and present chief Najam Sethi threatened that they won’t travel to India for the 50-over World Cup this year.
Now former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has intervened and talked about the same. He lashed out at the Indian cricket board and said that they are the former world champions and they also have respect. He opined that India should not intervene in the matter and the decision should be in hands of the apex cricket body.
“Pakistan should definitely play the Asia Cup, even if it is played in the UAE. But see, if Indians don’t want to come to Pakistan, we should also not play the World Cup match against them. We should not go for the World Cup. While the decision lies in the hands of the apex cricket body and the PCB, we also have some respect (Hamaari bhi KOI respect hai), and we have also been world champions. The issue isn’t between the two boards, it is in the hands of the two governments,” Kamran said on Nadir Ali’s YouTube Channel.
India will reportedly play their Asia Cup 2023 matches in UAE
The Asian Cricket Council meeting was held in Bahrain, earlier, to decide the venue of the Asia Cup. According to media reports, the official cricket of India made it clear that they won’t be traveling to Pakistan for Asia Cup. However, PCB said that they have organized successful tours of many countries including Australia, England, and New Zealand, so Team India should also come to Pakistan.
However, later, it was decided that the Indian team will play its matches in UAE, while the rest of the countries can go to Pakistan. There is also the possibility to keep the India-Pakistan match in UAE. If both teams reach the semi-finals or finals, then their match may be held in UAE.
