Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has extended an invitation to Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President, to attend the opening match of the Asia Cup between Pakistan and Nepal on August 30 in Multan. Other heads of cricket boards affiliated with the ACC have also been invited to the inaugural match, as stated by the PCB.


According to a reliable source within the PCB quoted by news agency PTI, the invitation to Shah is more of a hopeful gesture rather than an expectation of his actual presence in Pakistan. The invitation was a result of a verbal offer made by Chairman Zaka Ashraf to Jay Shah during their meeting in Durban for the ICC gathering.


Previously, there were reports in the Pakistani media that Jay Shah had accepted the PCB's invitation but the BCCI secretary later refuted these claims. The source emphasized that the PCB found itself in an awkward position after the media reported Shah's acceptance and then his subsequent denial of the invitation.

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Recognizing the delicate nature of relations between India and Pakistan, the source noted that the PCB's intention was to demonstrate that it separates sports from political matters by extending the invitation to Jay Shah. The primary objective is to underscore Pakistan's stance on maintaining cricket relations with India independent of political considerations.


The Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled to take place from August 30 to September 17, with matches being held in various venues across Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan fixture is all set to be played on September 2 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. There could be two more IND vs PAK games in this continental tournament. If both the sides reach the Super Fours, then they would lock horns on September 10 in Colombo and if they both manage to secure a place for themselves in the final, they will meet at the same venue on September 17.

(With Inputs From PTI)