Pakistan likely to play World Cup 2023 matches at neutral venue: Wasim

DUBAI: General Manager of Cricket for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Wasim Khan on Wednesday asserted that Pakistan was likely to play their matches of upcoming World Cup 2023, scheduled to take place in India, at a neutral venue, ARY News reported.

In an exclusive interview with ARY News in Sharjah, Wasim Khan asserted Pakistan would also not play their matches in India and they might get shifted to a neutral country.

“UAE might be an option” #ICC General Manager of Cricket #WasimKhan comments on the possibility of India playing their #AsiaCup fixtures at a neutral venue.#ARYNews #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/8QMa3NRNMP

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 28, 2023

He noted that India’s matches of the Asia Cup 2023 will be held at neutral venues. “I don’t think that Pakistan will play their matches in India. Their matches will also be held at a neutral venue just like India’s Asia Cup matches,” he said.

It may be noted here that the uncertainty around the 2023 Asia Cup began in October last year when the ACC president, and BCCI secretary, Jay Shah refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan and has since been trying to shift the tournament to a neutral venue.

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Jay Shah, who is also a BCCI secretary, said that India will not be travelling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup next year, according to a report by Indian media.

The development occurred on the day of the BCCI’s annual general meeting in Mumbai, where Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah suggested that the Asia Cup would have to be played at a neutral venue.

Later in March 2023, international media reported that Asia Cup 2023 was likely to be played in Pakistan with India playing their matches on a neutral venue.

According to the report, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are moving “swiftly towards brokering a resolution” to save the Asian event, which will be held in a 50-over format later this year.

During the meeting, it was discussed that Pakistan will host Asia Cup 2023 while India will play their matches on neutral venue. The possibility of India and Pakistan playing three times remains, the report stated.

The venues where India could play their matches are likely to be Oman, UAE, England, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. However, the decision will be taken later.