BCCI yet to take decision about withdrawal from the Asia Cup
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said any matter related to participation in events of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has not come up for discussion at any level, adding that any news or report around is purely speculative and imaginary. On Monday, various reports emerged about the BCCI informing the ACC about its decision to withdraw from the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the Men’s Asia Cup, which will be held in June and September, respectively, citing the continuing tensions between India and Pakistan. It is to be noted that the ACC is currently headed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Interior Minister in the country’s central government. Since this morning, it has come to our notice that some news items about BCCI’s decision not to participate in the Asia Cup and Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, both ACC’s events. Such news is devoid of any truth as BCCI has not even discussed or taken any such steps regarding the ensuing ACC events, let alone writing anything to the ACC. At this stage, our prime focus is on the ongoing IPL and subsequent England series, both men’s and women. “The Asia Cup matter or any other ACC event issue has not come up for discussion at any level, hence any news or report on that is purely speculative and imaginary. It may be said that BCCI, as and when any discussion on any ACC events takes place and any important decision is reached, the same will be announced through the media,” said Saikia in a statement issued to IANS. India does have the hosting rights for the Men’s Asia Cup, set to happen in September this year in T20 format. Apart from India and Pakistan, Bangladesh, UAE, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and Oman are supposed to be a part of the tournament. India is the defending champion of the Men’s Asia Cup, after beating Sri Lanka in the 2023 final held in the 50-over format in Colombo. That event was also affected by India-Pakistan tensions. Originally set to be hosted entirely by Pakistan, the 2023 Men’s Asia Cup was held in a hybrid model after India refused to travel there and had all its matches shifted to Sri Lanka.
Drone damages Rawalpindi stadium hours before Pakistan Super League match: Sources
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was hit by a drone hours before a match of the Pakistan Super League scheduled at 8 pm today, sources told India Today TV on Thursday. A match between PSL teams Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings was scheduled for today at the stadium. The development came hours after Islamabad attempted to strike 15 military targets in India, and in response, India destroyed the air defense radar systems in Lahore on Thursday. Pakistan Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry earlier claimed that some drones were neutralised in Lahore, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Karachi, Chhor, Rawalpindi, and Attock, news agency PTI reported. According to sources, Pakistan’s HQ-9 missile defence system units, developed by China, were hit by Israeli-made HAROP drones, effectively rendering the Pakistani army defenceless in Lahore. In a statement on India foiling Pakistan’s bid to escalate tensions, the Army said, “India’s response has been in the same domain with the same intensity as Pakistan.” According to the Army, Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar, and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.
