Najam Sethi Has said that if they do not play the Asia Cup this year, then there may be a loss of about $ 3 million in the earnings from the tournament. Sethi said that Pakistan is ready to bear the loss as it is a matter of principle. He said that we have clearly said that if the Asia Cup is not held on a hybrid basis (India’s matches at neutral venues and the remaining matches in Pakistan), then we will not accept any other schedule and will not play.
Pakistan is to host the Asia Cup in September but there is still ambiguity over the venue of the tournament as India has made it clear that it will not play in Pakistan. Sethi said, “Now security is not an issue for India and we have told them that if the government is not giving permission to play in Pakistan then show us the written proof.”
Najam Sethi said that when other teams including Australia, England, New Zealand are ready to play in Pakistan, then there should be no security issue for India to come to Pakistan. At the end of last year, BCCI secretary Jay Shah had clearly stated that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan under any circumstances. Shah is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council. After Shah’s statement, Pakistan is in a panic.
However, Roger Binny, who became the president of BCCI after Sourav Ganguly, had said that the Indian government will decide on Team India’s tour of Pakistan. The instructions of the government will be followed. Meanwhile, PCB and many former Pakistan cricketers have threatened that if India does not come to Pakistan to play the Asia Cup, then PCB will also boycott the ODI World Cup to be held in India and the team will not tour India.
