ISLAMABAD: India’s sports minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said the country’s home ministry will decide whether or not the Indian cricket team will tour Pakistan for next year’s Asia Cup.  

Tensions between the two sides escalated when the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah this week suggested holding Asia Cup 2023 at any other venue than Pakistan.   

Shah also serves as president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which last year granted Pakistan the hosting rights for Asia Cup 2023. Incidentally, he is the son of India’s Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah.  

PCB responded to Shah’s suggestion by saying India’s refusal to tour Pakistan could also ‘impact’ Pakistan team’s visit to India for the 50-over World Cup in 2023. India is scheduled to host the ODI World Cup next year and a host of other international ICC tournaments in the coming years.  

“It’s a decision that will be taken by the home ministry. Overall, players’ safety and security is an important matter,” Thakur said during an interaction with journalists, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).  

The minister said he expected Pakistan to take part in next year’s ODI World Cup in India. “All teams who qualify for [the World Cup] are invited [to India],” Thakur said. “Many times Pakistan teams have come to India and played. I feel India is not in a position to be dictated [to] and there is no reason for anyone to do that,” he added.  

“I expect all countries to come and compete.” 

India’s last trip to Pakistan was for the 2008 Asia Cup, while Pakistan’s last visit to India was for the 2016 T20 World Cup. Due to strained political relations between the two countries, India and Pakistan have not played any bilateral cricket since Pakistan toured India in 2012-13.  

India and Pakistan last played each other at the 2022 Asia Cup in UAE in August-September this year, and they are due to face off in the T20 World Cup in Melbourne on October 23.