Now this is an interesting development. Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, when asked about India’s participation in the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup, which Pakistan is scheduled to host, said during a media interaction on Sunday, that the BCCI should first make clear its own position on the vexed imbroglio.
“Let the Board of Control for Cricket in India take a call on Indian team’s participation in Asia Cup first, then only the Sports Ministry and Union Home Ministry will decide,” Thakur told reporters.
It is worth noting that the BCCI’s oft repeated stance on the Indian team playing in Pakistan has been that it has to abide by government’s directives, without offering any clear indication on what exactly its own position is on the matter.
It was in October 2022 that Jay Shah, BCCI secretary and Asian Cricket Council president, had unilaterally declared that the Indian crcket team would not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.
“We have decided we will not travel to Pakistan. We will play at a neutral venue,” said Shah, who also happens to be the Asian Cricket Council president, after the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) here. He was re-elected as secretary for a second term.
Pakistan Cricket Board chief Najam Sethi has in turn threatened to boycott the 2023 ODI World Cup, which India is hosting immediately after the Asia Cup, if Team India did a no show.
