NEW DELHI: Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said on Thursday that the home ministry will take a call on Indian cricket team’s travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup next year since the players’ security is an important matter.
Asked about Indian team’s travel, Thakur said, “It’s a decision that will be taken by the home ministry. Overall, players’ safety and security is an important matter,” Thakur said.
Pertinently though, when it was pointed out that of late international teams have started touring Pakistan, Thakur deflected the question.
Thakur further said that it was for the BCCI to look into the matter after the statement by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that holding Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue (stated by BCCI secretary and Asian Cricket Council president Jay Shah) could affect the Pakistan team’s participation in the ICC World Cup 2023, which India is hosting.
“It’s a matter of BCCI and the board will look into it to make comments. India is a land of sports, where not only one but many World Cups have been hosted and the next World Cup too will be hosted in India with teams from around the world participating in it. India cannot be ignored in any sector. It has contributed a lot to the world of cricket and the World Cup will be grand, historic and successful,” PTI quotes Thakur as saying while speaking at the announcement ceremony for the upcoming Khelo India Youth Games.
“All teams who qualify for (World Cup) are invited (to compete on the Indian soil). Many times Pakistan teams have come to India and played. I feel India is not in a position to be dictated (by someone) and there is no reason for anyone to do that. I expect all countries to come and compete,” Thakur told a select gathering of journalists when asked about the controversy that erupted after Shah’s statement.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken serious umbrage to “unilateral” comments by Shah about holding the 2023 Asia Cup at a neutral venue even though the ACC has awarded hosting rights to Pakistan.
“The overall impact of such statements has the potential to split the Asian and international cricketing communities and can impact Pakistan’s visit to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and future ICC Events in India in the 2024-2031 cycle,” read a statement from the PCB issued Wednesday.
“The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment yesterday’s (Tuesday) comments made by the ACC president Mr Jay Shah with regards to shifting of next year’s Asia Cup to a neutral venue. The comments were made without any discussion or consultation with the Board of the Asian Cricket Council or the Pakistan Cricket Board (event host) and without any thoughts towards their long-term consequences and implications.
“After having presided over the ACC meeting during which Pakistan was awarded the ACC Asia Cup with overwhelming support and response from the ACC Board Members, Shah’s statement of shifting of the ACC Asia Cup has clearly been made unilaterally. This is contrary to the philosophy and spirit for which the Asian Cricket Council was formed in September 1983, a united Asian cricket body to safeguard the interests of its members and organise, develop, and promote the game of cricket in Asia.
“The PCB has to date not received any official communication from the ACC on the statement of the ACC President. As such, the PCB has written to the Asian Cricket Council to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible on this important and sensitive matter.”
The BCCI secretary on Tuesday completely dismissed speculation of Team India travelling to Pakistan for the event and said that the Asia Cup would be held at a neutral venue.
“We will have Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue. It’s the government which decides over the permission of the team visiting Pakistan so we won’t comment on that but for the 2023 Asia Cup it’s decided that the tournament will be held at some neutral venue,” Shah had told reporters after the 91st AGM of the BCCI on Tuesday in Mumbai.
