Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has come out hard at the ICC for their silence as he became the latest to give his verdict on the ongoing controversy between Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). After BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup 2023 while adding that the tournament would be held in a neutral venue, it started a controversy and brought some sharp reactions from former Pakistani cricketers.
“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,” Shah told ANI.
The BCCI’s stand has drawn strong reactions from the Pakistan cricketers. Among many, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has become the latest cricketer to criticize the Indian cricket board.
Salman Butt asked if there was any ICC to have a look at it and then called for the PCB to show some strength. He said: “Pehle mujhe ye bataayein, kya ICC exist karta hai (firstly tell me, does ICC even exist?) Is it neutral? Is there no influence there? Is India not the heavyweight there because they bring more financial backup to ICC?.”
He added: “It was expected that India would say no. The solution to it should’ve been decided earlier. This happens everytime. The focus should be on the cricket so that fans and cricketers don’t get affected. If there are political tensions, both teams should avoid touring one another. It shouldn’t be that Pakistan tour India, but the latter doesn’t come to Pakistan. PCB should show some strength, this is their chance.”
Meanwhile, the PCB has also issued a strong statement on the same and has also threatened to boycott the 2023 ODI World Cup. PCB wrote: “The PCB has noted with surprise and disappointment of yesterday’s comments made by the ACC President Mr Jay Shah with regards to shifting of next year’s Asia Cup to a neutral venue. The comments were made 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.”
“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 its Members and organise, develop, and promote the game of cricket in Asia,” PCB said in a letter they posted on social media.
