According to a Cricbuzz report, the Indian cricket team could travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) approves the move.
The statement read, “The visit will be subject to the clearance of the government of the moment, but at this time, it is undoubtedly on the agenda of the board.”
In the second part of 2023, Pakistan is slated to host the 50-over Asia Cup, with India hosting the World Cup immediately after. Since 2008, Pakistan has been off-limits to India.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa, the Asia Cup in Pakistan, and the ICC Cricket World Cup were named in a BCCI notice that was distributed to the state associations on Thursday in advance of the AGM on October 18.
According to a BCCI official quoted in the Cricbuzz story, “It will be subject to the clearance of the Government of India as always.”
According to the article, there was always the Asia Cup this year as a possible substitute for holding the event in the UAE. The BCCI note, however, seemed to suggest otherwise.
The Indian Express reported yesterday that “India won’t be playing Pakistan in any bilateral series in the 2023–2027 cycle.”
The board “keeping the columns for games against Pakistan ‘blank'” in the Future Tours Programme (FTP) provided to all state associations,” it said, adding that the BCCI cannot make any decisions on a bilateral series with Pakistan until it “gets a nod” from the Government of India.
Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, a spokesman for the Foreign Office, claimed last month during a press briefing that India had abandoned plans to play cricket with Pakistan on a bilateral basis.
Ahmad stated, “We have always maintained that sports should not be involved with other things,” and he added that India was always welcome to play Pakistan.