BCCI VS PCB : After Jay Shah's 'neutral venue' statement, Pakistan threatens World Cup pullout

BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board are at loggerheads, yet again after BCCI secretary, Jay Shah who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council said that Asia Cup 2023, which is to be hosted by Pakistan, will rather be played at a neutral venue.

In response to Shah's statement, a senior Pakistan Cricket Board official said that PCB Chairman Ramiz Raza is now mulling over pulling out from the 50-over World Cup that India will host.

'The PCB is 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,' a senior PCB source told PTI

As per reports, the Pakistan board did not expect any announcement around next year's Asia Cup this early. A spokesperson from the board told PTI, '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'.

It has been learnt that the PCB chairman and other senior officials were 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.

India last travelled to Pakistan for the 2008 Asia Cup and Pakistan last came to India for the 2016 T20 World Cup. The neighbouring nations last played a bilateral series in 2012.