After reports suggested that the BCCI and the PCB have agreed to host India's matches for the Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral overseas venue, former Pakistan cricketer Imran Nazir made a socking statement against India.

India last visited Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup, while the Men in Green last played a bilateral series in India in 2012-13. India and Pakistan now only face each other in the multi-nation tournaments on neutral venues due to tension between the two countries.

Well, BCCI was adamant on its stance of not sending Team India to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023 due to security reasons and political tension between the two nations, and Pakistan had to agree to reportedly shift the matches to a neutral venue following a lot of drama between the two boards.

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Reacting to the whole drama, Nazir said that India is making security just an excuse, but the fact is that they are afraid of losing in Pakistan, and that’s why they are refusing to visit the country for the Asia Cup.

Imran Nazir said on the Nadir Ali Podcast: “There is no security reason. Just look at how many teams have been to Pakistan. Forget A teams, even Australia visited. These are all just cover-ups. The truth is that India won't come to Pakistan [for Asia Cup] because they are afraid of losing. Security is just an excuse. Come and play cricket. When you start playing politics, there is no way back.”

He added, “People want to watch India vs Pakistan games because there is a different level of excitement to it. The entire world knows it. Even we as cricketer feel that for cricket to reach every corner of the world, India-Pakistan matches need to happen. We used to play so much cricket. They are such a balanced team but India cannot tolerate losing. It's a game; you'll win some, you'll lose some.”

(Hindustan Times inputs)