‘If India skip Asia Cup, Pak won’t play T20 WC’: PAK threatens India

Wasim Khan, Pakistan Cricket Board ‘s (PCB) chief executive officer on Saturday said it will not send its team to India for the 2021 T20 World Cup if the BCCI does not agree to send the team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup T20 tournament to be held in September this year. He also said that presently two venues are being considered to host the Asia Cup.

“If India doesn’t come to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, we would also refuse participation in the 2021 T20 World Cup there,” Khan told reporters in Lahore.

PCB hasn’t handed over the hosting rights of Asia cup to BCB

There were many reports that PCB had agreed to give up Asia Cup hosting rights to BCB in exchange for Bangladesh sending its team to Pakistan. PCB officials dismissed these reports saying that

“The hosting rights have been given to us by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and we can’t just hand them over to anyone. We don’t have that authority.” 

Two venues in consideration

BIG!

PCB's Wasim Khan has dismissed reports that Pakistan has given up hosting rights of the T20 #AsiaCup.

"We are currently considering two venues to host Asia Cup. If India doesn't come to Pakistan for Asia Cup, we would also refuse participation in the 2021 T20 World Cup."

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) January 25, 2020

Khan also pointed out that due to issues with India, currently two venues are being considered for hosting the Asia Cup.

India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, also it has also not played a full bilateral Test series with Pakistan since 2007 due to political tensions and diplomatic relations between two nations. But Pakistan has visited India in 2012 to play a limited-overs series.

Tension continues

https://twitter.com/FactsYatharth/status/1221047880275746818?s=19

The main hurdle to Pakistan hosting the Asia Cup will be on whether India agrees to play in Pakistan due to security issues. A security delegate from Cricket South Africa would be visiting Pakistan in February to check the security situation in the country as Pakistan has invited the Proteas for a three-match T20 series in Pakistan in March-April after the Pakistan Super League.

MCC to tour Pakistan

PCB chief also said that Marylebone Cricket Club would be sending its team to Lahore to play four matches and the team would include prominent players such as Moeen Ali, Kumar Sangakara and Ravi Bopara. Pakistan last year welcomed back Test cricket after a long gap when Sri Lanka toured the nation in December.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qeUg6O_FJ8