Pakistan could boycott India's 2023 50-over World Cup after the statement from the BCCI latest secretary on the Asia Cup.

According to BCCI Secretary Jay Shah,ย Indiaย won't visitย Pakistan in 2023 due to political concerns between the two countries.

"I am saying this as ACC President. We [India] can't go there [to Pakistan], they can't come here. In the past also, Asia Cup has been played at a neutral venue," Shah told media after the BCCI's AGM, perย Sky Sports.ย 

"The Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a neutral venue."

Pakistanย andย Indiaย have not hosted an Asia Cup tournament since 2008, afterย Pakistan was the host country for that edition.

Pakistan Cricket Board retaliated with a statement stating they couldย boycott playing in the 2023 50-over World Cup.

โ€œThe overall impact of such statements have the potential to split the Asian and international cricketing communities, and can impact Pakistan's visit to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and future ICC Events in India in the 2024-2031 cycle," the statement reads.

Pakistanย Cricket Board cannot withdraw from an ICC event unless there is a security threat and proper confirmation from ICC's security team.

There can be harsh sanctions imposed and points reduction ifย Pakistanย tries to withdraw from an ICC event without a valid reason.

A similar case happened during the 2003 World Cup inย South Africa, where Englandย were penalised for not playing againstย Zimbabweย inย Zimbabwe.

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England were docked four points at the start of the tournament itself. The political condition of Zimbabweย was not appropriate, according to ECB. However, ICC gave a green flag, and the English Cricket Team boycotted the match.

But the scenario inย Indiaย andย Pakistanย is about boycotting the whole tournament byย Pakistan, which can lead to harsh implications for the board and team.

Asia Cup is not an ICC event; hence, it cannot have any interference from ICC.

BCCI's new President, Roger Binny, stated that it is not BCCI's decision to visitย Pakistanย for games, they want to play, but it all depends on the clearance fromย India's government.

Pakistanย needed permission from their government to go to the 2016 T20 World Cup inย India, and they only received it in time.

India will kick off its T20 World Cup campaign with the clash withย Pakistan on October 23 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.