Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi criticizes Jay Shah’s statement of hosting the Asian Cup 2023 at a neutral venue

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has criticized BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s comments on playing the Asian Cup 2023 at a neutral venue as Afridi claimed that there is a lack of understanding in cricket administration in India. He was not a fan of Shah’s comments especially when they are coming a few days before India take on Pakistan in their T20 World Cup opener in Australia.

Jay Shah came to the conclusion after BCCI’s 91st Annual General Meeting that the Asian Cup 2023 will be played at a neutral venue. Shah is also a chief of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and there is more criticism. The 2023 Asian Cup was earlier scheduled in Pakistan but due to restriction from the Indian government, Shah and others came to the decision of hosting the tournament in a neutral venue.

“We will have Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue. It is the government which decides over the permission of our team visiting Pakistan so we won’t comment on that but for the 2023 Asia Cup, it is decided that the tournament will be held at a neutral venue,” Jay Shah told ANI

After Jay Shah’s announcement on shifting the Asian Cup to a neutral venue, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi came up with a tweet sharing how both set of cricketers from India and Pakistan have great camaraderie and it was a good time for India to visit and play in Pakistan. He criticized the BCCI secretary and ACC chief on his tweet.

“When excellent camaraderie between the 2 sides in the past 12 months has been established that has created good feel-good factor in the 2 countries, why BCCI Secy will make this statement on the eve of T20 World Cup match? Reflects lack of cricket administration experience in India,” Afridi tweeted.

After these announcements Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to not travel to India for the ICC World Cup that will happen next year if the Asian Cup is moved to a neutral venue. Even Ramiz Raja has hinted at taking a stern decision of pulling out of the upcoming World Cup next year in India.

“The PCB is now prepared to take hard decisions and play hard ball because it is also aware that the ICC and ACC events will have to face commercial liabilities and losses if Pakistan does not play India in these multi-team events,” a senior PCB source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

India has not travelled to Pakistan since the 2008 Asian Cup. However Pakistan last came to India in 2012 for a limited overs bilateral series. Ever since 2012, India and Pakistan have played each other only in global events.