It will not happen, Chopra rubbishes Pakistan's warning to boycott World Cup

A considerable debate has erupted ahead of India's T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan in Melbourne on Sunday concerning the future of cricketing ties between these two Asian giants.

The BCCI and PCB have been at odds since the Indian cricket board's secretary Jay Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket  Council (ACC), confirmed that India will not travel to Pakistan for the next Asia Cup, which will be held in a neutral venue in 2023.

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Former Pakistan cricketers were outraged by the statement, which the PCB claimed was made without consultation with ACC members. In fact, in a strongly worded letter, the PCB threatened to pull out of the ODI World Cup in India next year and said India's decision not to travel to Pakistan might have ramifications in the two neighbors' cricketing ties.

On the other hand, former India opener Aakash Chopra has a different perspective. The former right-hander, one of the few prominent faces in Indian cricket to speak out on the issue, stated that India will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup next year and that Pakistan will come to India for the ODI World Cup.

“Asia Cup might not happen if India does not participate; there's no chance. The Asia Cup is a minor tournament compared to the world cup. Skipping the World Cup means you will forgo 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," Chopra said

Chopra referred to India as the ACC's "big brother" and claimed that the BCCI is the only council member who does not accept money and distributes it to the other 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, I can tell you 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.