Asia Cup: PCB sets deadline for India to confirm participation

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wasim Khan has said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has until June, 2020 to confirm participation in the Pakistan-hosted Asia Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place in September next year.

According to details, the strenuous relationship between the two countries has cast a doubt over India’s participation in next edition of Asia Cup.

India and Pakistan have not played any bilateral series since January 2013. Both the teams have, however, met numerous times in International Cricket Council (ICC) events.

"We need to see if India agrees to come to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. There is still some time till next year's September but by June, we have to know where we are going with this and if it can't be hosted here because of a lack of involvement of India,” Khan was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.

He added that the decision to shift the tournament to a different venue will be made by the Asia Cricket Council.

"But that is a decision for the Asian Cricket Council and ICC to make. We are ready to have India in the Asia Cup," he said.

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Khan also believes that the two neighbouring boards share a good relationship but Indian government interference proves to be a stumbling block.  

"Board to board level, we share a good relation with India but they have a lot of government interference and we can't keep on running after them to play a bilateral series. If they want to play they will have to tell us and give us a firm commitment. We have no issues playing at a neutral venue," he concluded.