The newly-appointed Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Roger Binny on Thursday (October 20) said that any decision to travel to Pakistan next year to take part in the Asia Cup tournament will be taken by the Indian government and that the board cannot decide it on its own. The 67-year-old former cricketer said that it’s not in the board’s control which country the Indian cricket team will travel to or invite for bilateral series as the final call lies with the central government.
The BCCI President’s comments came days after BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed that Team India will not travel to Pakistan next year for the Asia Cup tournament and that it will be shifted to some neutral venue. The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday (October 19) reacted to Shah’s statement and hinted that it could reconsider participating in future ICC tournaments in India.
“That isn’t our call,” Binny was quoted as saying by news agency ANI on Thursday. “We can’t say where our team has to go. We need to take clearance from Government if we leave the country or other countries come here. We can’t take that decision on our own, we’ve to rely on government.”
India’s last trip to Pakistan was for the 2008 Asia Cup, while Pakistan’s last visit to India was for the 2016 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Due to strained political relations between the two countries, they have not played any bilateral series since Pakistan toured India for a white-ball only series in 2012-13.
If India doesn’t travel to Pakistan in 2023, then Pakistan could contemplate not coming to India to take part in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The decision could have a long-term impact on the relationship between these two sides, and Pakistan are also lined up to host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
