With Jay Shah’s recent statement regarding the idea to stage the ongoing edition of Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, former cricket player Shahid Afridi slams Shah’s Statement over security concerns in Pakistan.
Shahid Afridi slams Shah’s statement over security concerns
When Pakistan was set to host the continental event, the ACC picked Sri Lanka as the neutral venue after India rejected to travel to Pakistan due to poor political relations between these countries.
The PCB proposed UAE as the natural venue, but ACC declined the request and picked Sri Lanka despite the rain threat at the time of the tournament. The highly anticipated IND-PAK clash in group stage matches has been cancelled due to rain.
Recently Jay Shah gave a statement about the reason for shifting most of the Asia Cup games to Sri Lanka saying, “All the full members, media rights holders, and in-stadium rights holders were initially hesitant to commit to hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan. This reluctance stemmed from concerns related to the security and economic situation prevailing in the country.”
“In my capacity as ACC president, I was committed to finding a viable and mutually agreeable solution. To this end, I accepted the hybrid model that was proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in collaboration with the ACC management,” he said.
Former Pakistani cricketer Shah Afridi took X to reply to Shah’s statement listing the various international matches that have been successfully hosted by Pakistan. He also declines Shah’s statement on security concerns in Pakistan and expresses readiness to host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
“I came across Mr. @JayShah’s statement about security situation in Pakistan. Just to refresh his memory, Pakistan has hosted the following foreign players/teams in the past six years:
2017 – ICC World XI & SL
2018 – WI
2019 – WI (W), BD (W) & SL
2020 – BD, PSL, MCC & ZIM
2021 – WI, PSL, SA & WI
2022 – AUS, PSL, WI, BD U19, Ireland (W) & ENG (2),
2023 – NZ (2), PSL, Women’s Exhibition Matches, #AsiaCup2023 (Nep, SL, Afg & BD) & SA (W)
Have no doubts Mr. Shah, Pakistan is ready to host @BCCI at the #ICCChampionsTrophy2025” Afridi said on ‘X’.
I came across Mr @JayShah’s statement about security situation in Pakistan. Just to refresh his memory, Pakistan has hosted the following foreign players/teams in the past six years:
2017 – ICC World XI & SL
2018 – WI
2019 – WI (W), BD (W) & SL
2020 – BD, PSL, MCC & Zim
2021 –…— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 6, 2023
With the first match of the Super Fours between Pakistan and Bangladesh concluded with the victory of Hosts, Sri Lanka is set to face Bangladesh on September 9 at R. Premadasa stadium.
Check: Asia Cup 2023 points table with NRR and team standings
