Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has refuted reports claiming he accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan, attributing them to “plain miscommunication.”
The rumours about Shah’s prospective visit were associated with Zaka Ashraf, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman, who asserted that the BCCI official would travel to Pakistan around the commencement of the Asia Cup.
Miscommunication During ICC Meeting
It was reported that Shah consented to Ashraf’s invitation during a meeting on the fringes of the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s annual session in Durban, South Africa. However, Shah clarified his position to News18 CricketNext, stating, “I have not agreed to anything… I’ll not be making any visit.”
In contrast, PCB’s Ashraf confirmed his separate meetings with Indian officials in Durban, detailing group and individual discussions. Ashraf mentioned he had invited Shah to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup and had also received an invitation from Shah to visit India during the World Cup.
Read: Revival of India-Pakistan Cricket: BCCI’s Jay Shah Accepts Invitation to Pakistan
Such negotiations could begin resuming cricket relations between India and Pakistan, which had paused for several years. The Asia Cup cricket tournament, scheduled from August 31 to September 17, features 13 One Day International (ODI) matches among India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, divided into two groups.
