Islamabad(Mudassar Chuhdary)_Former Pakistani cricket captain Shahid Afridi has come down hard on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to keep its team away from Pakistan tour for the upcoming Asia Cup next year.
Taking to Twitter, the legendary player said: “When excellent comradery between the two sides in the past 12 months has been established that has created good feel-good factor in the two countries, why BCCI secy will make this statement on the eve?
The BCCI at its annual general meeting decided not to tour Pakistan and the Indian cricket board will insist on a neutral venue for the tournament.
“Neutral venue for Asia Cup is not unprecedented and we have decided that we will not travel to Pakistan,” said Jay Shah secretary of the BCCI and president of the ACC. India has not toured Pakistan since 2008.
Over the past few years, the two countries have only faced each other in ICC and ACC events.
Reportedly, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is too mulling over skipping the Indian tour for the 2023 World Cup in response to BCCI’s decision. The board is already considering pulling out of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after India’s decision, the reports said, adding that a meeting of the board’s think tank is undergoing in Lahore in which matters including Asia Cup participation and India’s denial are being discussed.
The PCB, as per sources, would be declaring the ACC President and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah’s decision on the tour “unnecessary and hasty,” stressing that Shah cannot take a unilateral decision by himself.
