Jay Shah, the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Chairman of the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), received a pointed response from former chief selector and captain, Shahid Afridi, on Twitter (X). Afridi addressed Shah’s comments regarding the security situation in Pakistan, reminding him that Pakistan has successfully hosted numerous foreign teams and players over the past six years.
Afridi’s tweet also listed the international teams that have visited Pakistan between 2017 and 2023. He concluded his tweet by stating that Pakistan is fully prepared to host India in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Earlier, Jay Shah had released a statement expressing concerns about holding Asia Cup matches in Pakistan. He mentioned that broadcasters and media rights holders were hesitant to have all matches in Pakistan, citing security issues and economic conditions as factors. To address this, Sri Lanka was chosen as a joint host under a hybrid model.
However, there was controversy when the decision was made to move Asia Cup matches from Colombo to Hambantota and then back to Colombo without informing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Pakistan expressed its concerns and lodged a protest.
It’s worth noting that Jay Shah has faced criticism for the contentious Asia Cup schedule, with concerns about potential disruptions due to rain in Colombo and Kandy, particularly regarding the highly anticipated India-Pakistan matches in the Super Four stage on September 10.