Cricket News: Is this World Cup the last time we will see a match between India and Pakistan?

"The Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a neutral venue. I am saying this as ACC President. We [India] can't go there [to Pakistan]; they can't come here. In the past also, the Asia Cup has been played at a neutral venue," said Jay Shah, the president of the Asian Cricket Council. 

With Jay Shah giving such a statement, it invited much criticism. It has been said that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has not yet discussed the matter; then, in what capacity Jay Shah spoke on it at the BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM)? The heading to Pakistan was addressed in the BCCI AGM, where members were told that the decision would be taken based on permission from the Indian government. 

"The PCB is wondering in what capacity has Jay Shah given the statement that the ACC will look to relocate the Asia Cup to UAE out of Pakistan because the hosting rights were awarded by the executive board of the ACC, not the President," the PCB source said.

Hours after Jay Shah's statement, Shahid Afridi tweeted, "When excellent camaraderie between the two sides in the past 12 months has been established that has created good feel-good factor in the two countries, why BCCI Secretary will make this statement on the eve of T20 World Cup match? Reflects lack of cricket administration experience in India."

India and Pakistan have previously pulled out of Asia Cups because of the poor ties between India and Pakistan.  

Will Pakistan also pull out of the World Cup after India pulled out from the Asia Cup?

As the statement by Jay Shah surfaced on news channels, PCB chairman Ramiz Raja indicated that in such a case, Pakistan would pull out of the 50-ver ICC World Cup in India. 

"The PCB is now prepared to take hard decisions and play hardball because it is also aware that the ICC and ACC events will have to face commercial liabilities and losses if Pakistan does not play India in these multi-team events," a senior PCB source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"We have nothing to say at the moment but yes we will look at things and take up this matter at appropriate forums like the ICC board meeting in Melbourne next month," a spokesperson said.

If India pulls out of Asia Cup 2023 or shifts it to a neutral venue, Pakistan will likely be unwilling to travel to India for the ODI World Cup 2023. And thus, it will create an endless loop with both teams hardly getting any opportunity to clash in international fixtures apart from those held at neutral venues. If the matter is not settled amicably, there is a high chance that it might be the last time we see the India-Pakistan rivalry.