Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja is lately grabbing the headlines with his comments on BCCI and Indian cricket.
On Saturday (December 10), Ramiz once again touched the contentious topic, stating that the Men in Green won't be travelling to India if the Men in Blue pull out of the Asia Cup 2023.
Notably, Pakistan have the hosting rights for the Asia Cup 2023 but BCCI secretary Jay Shah last month said that India will not travel and the event would be shifted to a neutral venue.
In response, PCB said that alteration to the Asia Cup might see them opt out of the 50-over World Cup in India next October and November.
Now, Ramiz has reiterated the same statement, adding that Pakistan cricket has survived without playing bilateral series against India for a decade.
"We don't want to really go there but it's just that the fans want us to react. The fans are absolutely bitter because of what India's narrative has been regarding India-Pakistan," the PCB chief told Sky Sports Cricket on the second day of the Multan Test between Pakistan and England.
"I think there's a government policy and I've got no idea whether they'll come or not. The Asia Cup would mean a great deal to the fans, it's a multi-nation tournament. We will resist," he added.
India and Pakistan haven’t faced each other in a bilateral series since 2012-13 because of political hostility while the arch-rivals continue to lock horns in multi-nation tournaments.
Ramiz said he is all in for the series between India and Pakistan but on equal terms.
"I'm all for India-Pakistan contests, I've said this on record. I absolutely love the fans, and they like us as well - Pakistan has become a brand in international cricket, the players have got fan following in India, and I know that the second most watched team in India after India is Pakistan, so they take interest in our development," Raja remarked.
"We want to go and play, but the fact is it has to be on equal terms. You can't be subservient to a certain cricket board. We've survived without India now for a good number of years. Pakistan have looked at the scales of economy in-house and somehow have survived extremely well."
