Cricbuzz reported on Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was open to sending the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup.
“The visit is contingent on the approval of the government at the moment, but it is currently on the board’s agenda,” it stated.
In the second part of 2023, Pakistan is slated to host the 50-over Asia Cup, followed by the World Cup in India. India has been prohibited from entering Pakistan since 2008.
India’s participation in next year’s multilateral events, including the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa, the Asia Cup in Pakistan, and the ICC Cricket World Cup, were detailed in a BCCI note distributed to state associations on Thursday, ahead of the 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM).
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A BCCI official was reported in a Cricbuzz article as saying, “It will always be subject to the approval of the Indian government.”
The source said that there was always an alternative to holding the event in the United Arab Emirates, like as the Asia Cup this year. “However, the BCCI memo appeared to indicate otherwise.”
Another report published yesterday in the Indian Express stated that “India would not play Pakistan in any bilateral series between 2023 and 2027.”
“In the Future Tours Programme (FTP) provided to all state associations, the board has left the columns for games against Pakistan ‘blank,'” it said, adding that the BCCI cannot decide on a bilateral series with Pakistan unless it “receives approval from the Government of India.”
Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, spokesman for Pakistan’s Foreign Office, stated last month at a press briefing that India has abandoned bilateral cricket with Pakistan.
“We have always believed that sports should not be involved with other issues,” Ahmad said, adding that India was always welcome to play against Pakistan.
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