Former Pakistan Skipper Inzamam Ul Haq believes that it is the responsibility of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to bring in all the continental teams to Pakistan to participate in the Asia Cup 2023. The hosting rights are with Pakistan for this year’s tournament, but the BCCI has refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan.
BCCI president and ACC Chairman Jay Shah has already announced that India won’t be visiting Pakistan for the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup citing the security reason and the political tension between the neighbouring nations.
Speaking to the local media on the sideline of an event, former Pakistan Cricketer Inzamam Ul Haq feels that every team should play the game, wherever it is scheduled as the Asian Cricket Council needs to make sure that India visits Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023, and said that if India doesn’t come to Pakistan, on the same way Pakistan should not visit India for 2023 ODI World cup.
“Look, We should play cricket wherever it is being played. I’m not saying this only to Pakistan, but to all countries. The Asia Cup is not an event of Pakistan, but something of the continental level, wherever it happens the ACC (Asian Cricket Council) have to make sure that all team comes there,” Inzamam Ul Haq said.
“If some country does not want to come to our nation, we too should not go there, We Should play at a neutral venue and not deny playing entirely”.
The tussle between India and Pakistan over the 2023 Asia Cup is growing amidst the tournament scheduled to be played in three months and the important decision regarding the host of Asia Cup 2023 would get a clear picture after BCCI’s SGM on May 27.
The Asian Cricket Council has not finalized the venue of the high-octane tournament as BCCI wants the continental event to be played in a neutral venue and on the other hand, Pakistan took a firm stand on hosting the tournament in the hybrid model.
As of now, all the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan are suspended due to political and security reasons. The arch-rivals do not play any bilateral series against each other and only take on each other during ICC events or Asia Cup. The six-nation Asia Cup will be played in a 50-over format and is likely to be played in the first part of September 2023, as India has been grouped with Pakistan and Nepal.