PCB shows disappointment at ACC president's remarks about shifting of Asia Cup to neutral venue

LAHORE (92 News) - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed surprise and disappointment over yesterday’s comments made by ACC President Jay Shah with regards to shifting of next year’s Asia Cup to a neutral venue.

In a statement on Tuesday, the PCB spokesman said that ACC president had made comments 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 an 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 the its Members and organise, develop, and promote the game of cricket in Asia," he maintained.

The spokesman said that 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 ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and future ICC Events in India in the 2024-2031 cycle.

“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 (ACC) to convene an emergency meeting of its Board as soon as practically possible on this important and sensitive matter,” he concluded.