“No such matters were raised in meeting,” PCB issues statement amid reports on Asia Cup 2023 venue shift

Pakistan have the hosting rights for the 2023 edition of Asia Cup.

Asia Cup 2023 is due to be held in September | Getty

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday (February 5) issued a strong-worded statement amid reports claiming that the 2023 edition of Asia Cup is set to move out of Pakistan.

The Najam Sethi-led body also dismissed reports suggesting that all the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) members have been asked to take permission from their respective boards to play the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

"Cricinfo, in its story under the headline Decision on Asia Cup venue postponed to March 2023, stated: "In addition, all ACC members are believed to have been asked to seek their own government's positions on whether their teams can travel to Pakistan.

"The PCB wishes to clarify that no such matters were raised in the meeting, nor did any member indicate any intention to seek government clearance for playing in Pakistan. Sri Lanka has recently visited Pakistan in 2017 and 2019, while Bangladesh has toured Pakistan in 2020," PCB's statement read.

"In the 2023-2027 Future Tours Programme (FTP), which has been agreed and announced by all ICC Members, Afghanistan Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have confirmed their tours to Pakistan," the board added.

Earlier, a report published in PTI claimed that the multi-nation tournament is all set to move to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but the official call will be taken in March.

After the ACC meeting, the PCB has also threatened to boycott the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, with current chairman Najam Sethi echoing the words of his predecessor Ramiz Raja.

Last month, the ACC announced that the Men's ODI Asia Cup 2023 will take place in September and India-Pakistan would be in the same group along with a Qualifying team.

However, no statement was made over the venue. Pakistan have the hosting rights but BCCI secretary Jay Shah in September 2022 that India will not travel and the event would be shifted to a neutral venue.

In response, then PCB chief Ramiz had said that alteration to the Asia Cup might see them opt out of the 50-over World Cup in India later this year.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 05 Feb, 2023

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