"I can give you in writing"- Ex-IND cricketer reckons that Pakistan will definitely come to India for ODI WC 2023
The news of India not going to Pakistan for the next edition of the Asia Cup 2023 has certainly been the talk of the town. Statements from both sides of the border have been continuously delivered. Many former Pakistani cricketers have expressed their disaggrements over India's denial.
It all started when the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Jay Shah, came up with a statement on Tuesday that India would not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023. This decision was taken during the 91st Annual General Meeting held in Mumbai on October 18.
Since that statement came out, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also reacted and wrote a letter to the Asian Cricket Council in this regard. On the other hand, some media reports also claimed that Pakistan were looking to pull out of the 2023 ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in India.
However, former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has a totally different opinion on this statement from the PCB. He believes that Pakistan might not stick to this decision and will definitely send their cricket team to play in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
In a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Aakash said that if India does not take part in the Asia Cup 2023, that might not happen at all because it is not a big tournament as compared to the World Cup, and not playing the ICC event means the board will miss the chance to earn huge money from the ICC, which is given to the participants.
He added, "If it has been said that India 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."
Furthermore, Aakash highlighted that the ACC is a pool of Asian teams and India doesn't take any kind of money from them. Instead, they offer their money to others, while other teams get money from the ACC during any tournament. That is why if India doesn't take part, then it might not happen.