“That's not the BCCI's call,” Binny opens up on the IN-PAK debate

Roger Binny, President of the BCCI, has made it abundantly clear that the cricket board cannot decide whether the Indian team will travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup the following year. The winner of the World Cup in 1983 said that the government would take a call about it.

Even though Pakistan is supposed to host the Asia Cup in 2023, a big debate broke out a few days ago when Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI and president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), said that India would want a neutral venue for the tournament.

Binny discussed the raging controversy during a press conference on Thursday, October 20.

“That’s not the BCCI’s call. We have to get clearance from the government. Once we get clearance, we give a go-ahead. We can’t take the decision on our own.”

he said

That isn't our call. We can't say where our team has to go. We need to take clearance from Govt if we leave the country,or other countries come here.We can't take that decision on our own, we've to rely on govt:BCCI Pres Roger Binny on team India's travel to Pakistan for Asia Cup pic.twitter.com/8O7JhvDoB9

— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2022

In a similar vein, earlier in the day, India’s sports minister Anurag Thakur stated that the country’s home ministry would decide whether India would attend the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan.

“It’s a decision that will be taken by the home ministry. Overall, players’ safety and security is an important matter.”

he expressed further

Thakur, however, hinted that he is expecting Pakistan to play the 2023 World Cup in India. 

“All teams who qualify for [the World Cup] are invited [to India]. Many times Pakistan teams have come to India and played. I feel India is not in a position to be dictated [to] and there is no reason for anyone to do that. I expect all countries to come and compete.”

The minster commented

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India will be the sole hosts of the 50-over World Cup next year. Earlier, they had co-hosted the ICC event in 1987, 1996 and 2011.