‘Can give it to you in writing that India won't go to Pakistan' - Aakash Chopra opens up on 2023 Asia Cup venue tussle

Team India will take on Pakistan in both teams' first match of the T20 World Cup 2022. The highly-anticipated clash will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23 (Sunday). 

Ahead of the arch-rivals encounter, the cricket boards of both countries are indulged in some serious war of words. It all started when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), said that the Men in Blue will not travel to Pakistan for the next edition of Asia Cup in 2023 and that it will be hosted at a neutral venue. 

The above-mentioned statement did not go down well with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as they have threatened not to participate in the next year's 50-over World Cup in India. PCB also alleged that the decision to shift 2023 Asia Cup was taken without any consultation of other ACC members, which includes PCB chairman Ramiz Raja. 

Asia Cup might not happen at all if India doesn’t participate, there's no chance: Aakash Chopra

Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer and expert Aakash Chopra has made some bold statements on the current tussle between the two boards.

"Asia Cup might not happen at all if India doesn’t participate, there's no chance. The Asia Cup is a minor tournament compared to the world cup. Skipping the World Cup means you will end up forgoing a massive amount of revenue that ICC shares (with the participating nations). It’s a case of who blinks first. So I’m not taking this seriously. I feel the Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a neutral venue," he said on his YouTube channel.

He also stated that BCCI is like a "big brother" to the ACC members as the Indian board is the only member of the council that does not take money but distributes it among the other member boards.

“Of course, ACC is a consortium. But few are aware of the fact that India doesn’t take a penny from ACC. Everybody takes a certain amount from the (ACC) coffer whether 4 million or 8 million but India ends up distributing their amount instead," Chopra said. “India has been playing the role of a big brother in ACC. If it has been said that the team might not travel to Pakistan, then I can give you this in writing that India won’t. The Asia Cup will also be held at a neutral venue. And Pakistan will also definitely come to play in the World Cup (in India)... Take all this from in writing. All these things are guaranteed," he added.