Jay Shah's comments could affect Pakistan's future visits to India: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board has strongly reacted to the news of the Indian Cricket Board asserting the 2023 Asia T20 to be moved out of Pakistan to a neutral venue. The Pakistan Cricket Board accused Jay Shah, the ACC president and also the Indian Cricket Board secretary, of taking the decision ‘unilaterally’ and that it can have an impact on Pakistan’s future visits to India for global events, including the ODI World Series next year. 

"The Pakistan Cricket Board has noted with surprise and disappointment yesterday's comments made by the ACC President Jay Shah with regards to shifting of next year's Asia T20 to a neutral venue," the governing body said in a statement on Wednesday (October 19). "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 implication.

After having presided over the ACC meeting during which Pakistan was awarded the ACC Asia T20 with an overwhelming support and response from the ACC Board Members, Mr Shah's statement of shifting of the ACC Asia T20 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 overall impact of such statements have the potential to split the Asian and international cricketing communities, and can impact Pakistan's visit to India for the ODI World Series 2023 and future global events in India in the 2024-2031 cycle," it added.

Pakistan are scheduled to host the upcoming continental championship but Shah, in a statement on Tuesday following the Indian Cricket Board annual general meeting, had turned down the suggestion of the Indian team resuming across-border travel. 

"Neutral venue for the Asia T20 is not unprecedented and we have decided that we will not travel to Pakistan," Shah, the ACC president and also the secretary of the Indian Cricket Board, had said. "I have decided that we will play at a neutral venue," he added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board revealed it has now written to the ACC board for an emergency meeting on the ‘sensitive’ matter. 

"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 ACC to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible on this important and sensitive matter."