Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Roger Binny, Vice-President Rajeev Shukla arrived at Punjab's Amritsar airport on Monday (September 4) to visit Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023. It was earlier reported that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had invited BCCI and as one of the key members of chairman Jay Shah-headed Asian Cricket Council (ACC), and that's why Shukla and Binny will be travelling to Pakistan. For the first time since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, a BCCI official will be visiting Pakistan. The never-ending political tensions between the two cricketing nations prompted India to not travel to Pakistan for any tournament, only square off against each other in big ICC events.
"This two-day visit is purely from the point of view of cricket, nothing political...," Shukla told reports. Roger Binny said "I am looking forward to my visit since we've been to Colombo to see matches in Sri Lanka...".
The 2023 edition of Asia Cup was on the verge of getting canceled after BCCI secretary Jay Shah, also the chairman of Asia Cricket Council (ACC), announced that team India won't travel to Pakistan for the continental tournament.
Reportedly, Rajeev Shukla and Roger Binny, will be visiting Lahore, venue for three of the four Asia Cup 2023 matches being hosted by Pakistan. Four of nine Asia Cup 2023 matches scheduled to be played in Pakistan will be hosted in Lahore and Multan.
Asia Cup 2023 matches scheduled to be played in Pakistan
Matches scheduled to be played in Pakistan
August 30: Pakistan vs Nepal in Multan
September 3: Bangaldesh vs Afghanistan in Lahore
September 5: Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka in Lahore
September 6: 1st Super 4s match in Lahore