Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ramiz Raja has once again reiterated his stance on touring India for the next year’s 50-over World Cup by stating that scheduling the Asia Cup 2023 at a neutral venue will have dire consequences on the upcoming World Cup 2023.
Notably, Jay Shah, BCCI Secretary and Asia Cricket Council President, earlier admitted that he would push Asia Cup 2023 at neutral venues, most like UAE, as Indian players will not travel to Pakistan. Ever since that comment from the BCCI’s top official was made, the Pakistan Cricket fraternity came out all guns blazing as Ramiz Raja said that his team will act accordingly.
“We are going to be aggressive mode on that. Our players will not tour India to play in World Cup 2023. If anyone will snatch the right to schedule Asia Cup 2023 from us, we will take bold steps and let them pay the price,” Ramiz Raja said earlier.
In a recent interaction with former England cricketer Michael Atherton on Sky Sports, Ramiz Raja said that he wants both the arch-rivals to engage in a bilateral contest but pulling Asia Cup out of Pakistan is ‘unacceptable.’
"We want to go and play, but the fact is it has to be on equal terms. You can’t be subservient to a certain cricket board. We have survived without India now for a good number of years. Pakistan have locked at the scales of economy in-house and somehow have survived extremely well,” Ramiz Raja said.
“I am all for India vs Pakistan contests. I have said this on record. I absolutely love the fans, and they like us as well. Pakistan has become a brand in international cricket, the players have got a fan following in India. I know that Pakistan is the second most watched team in India, so they take interest in our development,” PCB Chief added.
He further claimed that BCCI is bound by its government’s call and he has no idea if the government of India will take the right call in the matter or not.
