India won’t travel to Pakistan for 2023 Asia Cup: Jay Shah

Mumbai, Oct 18

Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan and will insist on a neutral venue for next year's Asia Cup, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed on Tuesday after the board's Annual General Meeting, here.

The 2023 edition of the continental championship -- Asia Cup -- has been allotted to Pakistan as per the International Cricket Council's Future Tours Programme.

However, the BCCI after their AGM arrived at a conclusion that it would not travel to its neighbouring country for the tournament and demanded that the tournament be moved to a neutral venue.

"Neutral venue for the Asia Cup is not unprecedented, and we have decided that we will not travel to Pakistan," Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

"I have decided that we will play at a neutral venue," he added.

Notably, the 2022 edition of the Asia Cup was also played in a neutral venue after an economic and political crisis engulfed the host nation, Sri Lanka. The tournament was held in UAE, where Sri Lanka emerged as the champions after beating Pakistan in the final.

--IANS