‘BCCI has great influence in world cricket with its financial power’: Najam Sethi | cricket

Asian Cricket Council members are set to meet in Dubai to come to a conclusion on the much-discussed Asia Cup 2023 tournament. Ahead of the ACC-ICC meeting, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Najam Sethi called for support from the other members of the ACC, although he admitted BCCI has a strong influence on world cricket.

In October last year, ACC chief and BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced that India would not travel to Pakistan for the forthcoming Asian Cup tournament and then insisted on a change of venue. Pakistan, which had been given the hosting rights to the event, retaliated by saying it would boycott the 2023 ODI World Cup, which is being held in India, if they were denied hosting the tournament.

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“It is important to see how other members (of the ACC) see our stance on the Asia Cup. What they think is important, but in the end we have to realize how much impact BCCI has with its financial power in world cricket,” Sethi said at a press conference before leaving for Dubai to attend ACC and ICC meetings.

“I was in contact with senior members of the ACC. I informed them about our problems and we will try to find honest solutions to the problems,” he added.

ACC also held a meeting on the same matter last month but there was no official announcement afterwards, although reports suggested the UAE had emerged as an alternative venue for the Asian Cup, with Pakistan reserving the hosting rights.

“I will also be speaking to BCCI Secretary and ACC President Jay Shah. I will see how the meetings go and then come back and, after consulting the relevant authorities, will make a final decision on whether to send our team to India for the World Cup,” Sethi added.