Former Pakistan skipper and wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed has given his opinion on the Asia Cup 2023 issue which started with the BCCI refusing to send the Indian team to Pakistan over security concerns, after which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed an alternative.
The alternative was to host India’s matches at an alternate venue and the rest of the matches being played in Pakistan itself. Pakistan's attempt to host the Asia Cup has encountered numerous setbacks, with the latest being the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Monday deciding to move the Asia Cup out of the country.
In reaction, Sarfaraz Ahmed said in a video by Cricket Pakistan: "We should not even talk about India not coming to Pakistan. We should take our stance that India should come and play in Pakistan. The way people of Pakistan have seen the likes of Steve Smith, Joe Root, and James Anderson playing in Pakistan, similarly they want to see an India vs Pakistan match in Pakistan.”
Reports suggested that the ACC rejected PCB’s proposal to host the tournament on a 'hybrid model' was rejected by the member nations, as per PTI.
"Every team is coming to Pakistan. We should not appeal (to teams to come and play in Pakistan), it is our right that cricket comes to Pakistan. The Pakistan players and PCB has struggled a lot to bring cricket back to the nation. Our security forces, intelligence unit, and army personnel have played a crucial role in bringing cricket back to Pakistan. I think India should come to play in Pakistan and every team that has come here and played should support Pakistan. The way we host teams, there would hardly be any country in the world that would match us," he added.
The BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who also happens to be the ACC president, has always maintained that the Asia Cup should take place at a neutral venue. And Sri Lanka has emerged as the top contender to host the tournament.
Whether Pakistan participates or not in the tournament remains to be seen.
(PTI inputs)
