Former India opener Aakash Chopra has said that he can give it in writing that Pakistan will come to India to play in the ODI World Cup 2023. This comes after reports suggested that the PCB has said that if India doesn’t come to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023, then they might not come to India for the ICC event.
Pakistan is the host of Asia Cup 2023 which is to be played in the ODI format possible in September, but the BCCI confirmed that India will not be traveling to Pakistan and Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, and ACC chief said that the tournament will be moved out to a neutral venue.
PCB, in retaliation, criticized the unilateral decision and said that if India doesn’t come to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, they might have to rethink coming to India for the World Cup.
Now, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra opined that Pakistan cannot withdraw from the World Cup under any circumstances.
"The Pakistan guys are saying that if we don't go there for the Asia Cup, they won't play the Asia Cup at all and that they will come to our home to play the World Cup as well, that they will not come to India. Can that happen?
I can give it to you in writing, whether the Asia Cup happens or not, it is 120% guaranteed that Pakistan will come here and play the World Cup as well. If Pakistan boycott the World Cup, the repercussions are going to be dire. That is my opinion,” Chopra said on the Aakashvani show on JioCinema.
Chopra believes India will not be traveling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. He also urged PCB to host the Asia Cup at a neutral venue, opining that the Indian government will not give clearance for the team to travel to Pakistan
He said: "There was a lot of discussion about the Asia Cup. There was an ACC (Asian Cricket Council) meeting and there also Pakistan were throwing their weight around. I have two or three points. There was an exhibition match going on in Quetta and there was a bomb blast nearby. Honestly, that has happened. Everybody is safe, thank you very much. But India will not go."
The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) doesn't have to do anything about it, eventually, you need clearance from the government, which you will not get. So it is almost confirmed that India will not go to Pakistan. We shall find out whether the Asia Cup happens or not. I feel it will happen - you have the hosting rights. Do it in Dubai - you will get the money. I feel they should do it."
UAE has hosted the last two editions of the Asia Cup, the ODI format in 2018 and the T20 format in 2022.
(Sportskeeda inputs)
