Pakistan is going to host Asia Cup 2023

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that it was open to sending the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2023, according to a Cricbuzz report.

“The visit will be subject to the clearance of the government of the time, but right now, it is surely on the schedule of the board,” it said.

Pakistan is planning to host the 50-over Asia Cup in the second half of 2023 following which the World Cup will take place in India. Pakistan has been a no-go area for India since 2008.

A BCCI note, circulated among the state associations on Thursday ahead of the October 18 Annual General Meeting, listed out India’s engagements in next year’s multilateral events, which included ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa, Asia Cup in Pakistan and the ICC Cricket World Cup.

 “In the Future Tours Program sent to all state associations, the board has kept the columns for games against Pakistan ‘blank’,” it stated, adding that the BCCI cannot take any decision on a bilateral series with Pakistan until it “gets a nod” from the Government of India.

Last month, at a press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesman Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said that it was India that had walked away from playing bilateral cricket with Pakistan.

“We have always advocated that sports should not be mixed with other matters,” Ahmad said, adding that if India wanted to play against Pakistan, it was always welcome to do so.