The BCCI and PCB are in a tussle over the staging of the Asia Cup 2023. While Pakistan have the hosting rights, the BCCI officials have time and again reiterated that India will not travel and the event would be shifted to a neutral venue.
As of today, the Pakistan Cricket Board has not agreed to the demand, leading to a deadlock.
Recently, PCB proposed a ‘hybrid model’ to host the tournament. In such a model, India would play their matches in UAE while Pakistan would play their matches in homeland. However, the Asia Cricket Council is yet to take a final call.
Amid the conflict, PCB chairman Najam Sethi has threatened to boycott the ODI World Cup in India later this year if the Asia Cup is shifted outside Pakistan.
Now, former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has suggested that Pakistan should take a stand and avoid travelling to India for the World Cup.
During an event for PSL franchise Peshawar Zalmi, Inzamam spoke to reporters and stated that it is the responsibility of the ACC to ensure that all teams can participate in the tournament, irrespective of where it is played.
"Dekhiye ji, cricket kahi bhi ho jaake khelni chahiye. Yeh main Pakistan ko nahi keh raha, saare countries ko keh raha hu. Jo Asia Cup ho raha hai na yeh Pakistan ka event nahi hai. Yeh Asia level ka event hai. Woh jaha bhi kare woh make sure kare ki saari teamein waha aani chahiye. Agar koi humaare mulk mein nahi aati, toh humein bhi uske mulk mein nahi jaana chahiye. Thik hai kisi bhi neutral venue pe khel sakte hai unke saath. Khelne se inkaar nahi karna chahiye humein. (Look, we should play cricket whereve it is being played. I'm not saying this only to Pakistan, but all countries. The Asia Cup is not an event of Pakistan, but something of the continental level. Wherever, it happens they (ACC) have to make sure that all teams come there. If some country does not want to come to our nation, we too should not go there. We should play at a neutral venue, and not deny playing entirely.)" Inzamam said at the event.