Delhi: Indian cricket board official has taken a dig at Pakistan and has said there would be no sponsors backing the 2023 Asia Cup in the absence of Team India. Pakistan have the hosting rights of the Asia Cup, scheduled to take place later this year in September. "India is not going to Pakistan. Asia Cup will have to be shifted. A tournament without Kohli, Rohit, Gill will have the sponsors back out," BCCI official was quoted as saying by The Press Trust of India. An emergency Asian Cricket Council meeting was held in Bahrain on Saturday, where no decision was taken regarding the venue of 2023 Asia Cup.

However, sources said that PCB chairman, Najam Sethi told BCCI secretary & Asian Cricket Council President Jay Shah that if India won’t play in Pakistan, then Pakistan will also not play in 2023 World Cup in India. In any case, Pakistan would retain the hosting rights regardless of wherever the event takes place. A final decision on the venue will be taken in March when the ICC and ACC Executive Board meetings take place one after the other, since the issues are the same in the 2023 Asia Cup (Pakistan), World Cup 2023 (India) and 2025 Champions Trophy (Pakistan).

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 06 2023

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