BCCI vs PCB: Why is Pakistan threatening to pull out of 2023 World Cup in India?

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has threatened to pull out of 2023 ODI World Cup to be held in India if the BCCI decides to push for a neutral venue for Asia Cup 2023, which will be played in Pakistan. 

What is the issue? The controversy began on Tuesday (October 18) at the BCCI's Annual General Meeting, where Jay Shah, who was elected as the General Secretary for the second time in a row, said that India will play Asia Cup at a neutral venue instead of travelling to Pakistan. 

PCB chief Ramiz Raja reacted strongly to Shah's statement saying that if that's the case, Pakistan will pull out of the 50-over ICC World Cup to be hosted in India in 2023. The hosting rights of 50-over Asia Cup in 2023 has been given to Paksitan by the Asian Cricket Council of which Jay Shah is the President.

"The PCB is now prepared to take hard decisions and play hard ball because it is also aware that the ICC and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events will have to face commercial liabilities and losses if Pakistan does not play India in these multi-team events," a senior PCB source told PTI.

PCB hasn't replied directly on the controversy as of now. But, it is learnt that PCB chief Ramiz Raja and several senior officials are upset over the comments made by Jay Shah. A PCB spokesperson said that these matters will be taken up at the ICC board meeting in Melbourne next month.

India and Pakistan cricket:

• India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series in the last 10 years. In 2012, Pakistan travelled to India for a six-match ODI series .
• Indian team hasn't travelled to Pakistan since 2008 after the Mumbai terror attacks. There was a bilateral series which was scheduled in 2009 but it was cancelled in the light of terror attacks.
• Since 2012, India and Pakistan have only played each other at ICC events at neutral venues. 

Why BCCI doesn't want India to travel to Pakistan?

After the attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore, no international team visited Pakistan for more than a decade due to security reasons. And not only India, several other countries like New Zealand, Australia have expressed their apprehensions about to travelling to Pakistan.

Will PCB pull out of ACC?

PCB sources, who spoke to PTI, said that Pakistan is also mulling over pulling out of ACC because of the recent controversy. The source said that PCB will not accept any disruptions to its hosting rights. 

"One option under consideration will be to pull out of the ACC as the PCB believes ACC was formed to promote and develop cricket in the region and forge unity among member nations. But if the President of the ACC is going to give statement like these, there is no use for Pakistan to remain in the body," the source said.