The political and cross-border tension between India and Pakistan has prevented an on-field faceoff between the teams from two extremely passionate cricketing nations.
The arch-rivals last met each other in the Champions Trophy amidst uproar and calls for a boycott. Thus it was always going to be tough for India to host the Asia Cup 2018 and with Pakistan involved.
Reports suggest that the BCCI has now decided to pull out as hosts for the tournament.
The matter was discussed in the Governing Body meeting and the office bearers weren’t certain whether the government would allow them to invite Pakistan since the relations continue to remain strained.
Thus the BCCI has conveyed to the Asian Cricket Council their inability to serve as hosts for the Asia Cup.
Earlier, India was supposed to host the Under-19 Asia Cup this year but had to give it away due to the same reason. The tournament was eventually hosted by Singapore where beating all odds the Afghanistan junior team emerged victorious.
The Indian government holds a stern stand against their neighbours and thus the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had failed to honour the MoU signed with their Pakistani counterparts to play bilateral series at home and away.
The last India v Pakistan bilateral series was played 5 years ago in 2012 when India hosted their neighbours for a limited-overs tour. And thereafter the contest has just been witnessed in multi-lateral tournaments.
BCCI has time and again tried to approach the central government for an approval to invite or accept Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) offer to play bilateral or triangular cricket in Indi or even at a neutral venue. But the government is in no mood to allow cricketing ties to resume before the political standstill is resolved. - Cricktracker
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