BCCI to pull out of Asia Cup as Pak minister heads Asian cricket body; bid to isolate Pakistan cricket
PTC News Desk: In light of the recent escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has chosen to distance itself from all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events for the time being.
According to report, the BCCI has notified the ACC of its decision to pull out of both the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka next month, and the Men’s Asia Cup, set for September.
The ACC is presently chaired by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The decision is part of a move to isolate Pakistan cricket. “The Indian team can’t play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC whose chief is a Pakistan minister. That’s the sentiment of the nation. We have verbally communicated to ACC about our withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our future participation in their events too is on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government,” said a BCCI source.
The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup was also affected by the strained India-Pakistan relations. Since Pakistan was the host nation, India declined to travel across the border. As a result, the BCCI arranged for India’s matches to be held in Sri Lanka instead. The tournament turned out to be disappointing for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as Pakistan didn’t reach the final, while India clinched the title by defeating Sri Lanka in Colombo.
- PTC NEWS
