The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clearly stated that the Indian team won’t be travelling to Pakistan to take part in the 2023 Asia Cup and that the tournament should be moved to a neutral venue. Giving a quite blunt reaction to BCCI’s rigid stance, Pakistan’s former skipper Javed Miandad claimed that the reason why India is avoiding touring Pakistan is as “it becomes a trouble if they come here and lose to us”.
“India can go to hell if they don’t want to come to Pakistan to play cricket,” Javed Miandad stated at a recent public event.
“I’ve always backed Pakistan. And you know that I don’t leave spare India whenever an issue arises. But the thing is we need to look at our part. And we should fight for it. We don’t care because we are getting to host our cricket. This is ICC’s job. If ICC can’t control this there’s no use of the governing body. They need to implement similar rules for every team. If teams like these don’t come, they should be debarred. India hoga, apne liye hoga. Hmare liye nahi hai.“
However, team India’s former pacer Venkatesh Prasad gave an epic one-word reply to Miandad’s rant. “But they are refusing to go to hell,” said Venkatesh in a viral tweet.
Media reports have claimed that the Asia Cup 2023 could be hosted by United Arab Emirates (UAE), although an official confirmation is awaited.
It has also been reported that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Najim Sethi has warned that if BCCI remains firm on its decision, Pakistan might also pull out of the ODI World Cup in India.
“The PCB took particular exception to that and ESPNCricinfo understands that on Saturday their chief Najam Sethi told Shah that if India don’t play in Pakistan, Pakistan will consider not playing in India for the 2023 World Cup,” a report carried by ESPNCricinfo quoted.
