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With the Board of Control for Cricket in India being adamant about their decision of not travelling to Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) persist in their decision of not giving up the hosting rights for the upcoming major tournament. Recently, the PCB proposed the ‘hybrid venue’ model, where India would have played their matches at a neutral venue. Amid rumours of Pakistan refusing to travel to the hosting country for the World Cup 2023, former skipper Shahid Afridi has urged the PCB to allow the team to travel to India, saying Pakistan returning with the trophy will be a tight slap for the BCCI.
According to reports, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have decided to shift the Asia Cup 2023 out of the country, citing that the other members have refused the ‘Hybrid Venue’ model. Following this, the PCB has threatened to boycott the ODI World Cup if the Asia Cup is shifted outside of the country. However, amid the deadlock, the former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has urged the cricket regulating body to allow the Babar-led side to travel to India and said that winning the trophy in the host country will be a big slap to the BCCI.
According to Samaa TV, Afridi said, "I don't understand why they (PCB) are so adamant and keep saying that we won't go to India. They need to simplify the situation and understand that an international cricket tournament is happening - take it rather positively; go and play. Tell your boys to get the trophy; the whole nation stands behind you. It'll not only be a big win for us but a tight slap on the face of BCCI."
"Go to India, play decent cricket and claim the win. This is it; we have only this option resorted to ourselves. We are supposed to go there, land back with the World Cup and give them a steer clear message that we can go anywhere and bag the victory," he further added.
Notably, India haven’t travelled to Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup due to the diplomatic relations between the neighbouring nations. While the archrivals haven’t played any Test match with each other since 2007, the Pakistan team last toured India in 2012 for a bilateral series.