'India will play Asia Cup at neutral venue', says BCCI secretary Jay Shah amid speculation over team's visit to Pakistan

India, Pakistan clashed twice in the 2022 Asia Cup played in the UAE (Image: AP)

BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday made it clear that India will play Asia Cup next year at a neutral venue.

The 2023 edition, which will be played in the 50 over format ahead of the ODI World Cup in India, has been allotted to Pakistan. "We have decided to play at a neutral venue," Shah was quoted as saying by multiple cricket websites after the conclusion of BCCI's Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Shah also happens to be the Asian Cricket Council president

The Asia Cup being held at neutral venues is not unprecedented. The 2022 edition was held in the UAE last month after hosts Sri Lanka expressed their inability to host the event amid the economic crisis back home.

India and Pakistan only play each other in Asia Cup and global events due to political tensions between the two countries.

Both teams played twice in the Asia Cup last month and are set to clash in Melbourne on October 23 in the T20 World Cup.

BCCI's cash reserves grow

BCCI's cash reserves grew by approximately Rs 6,000 crore in last 3 years. At the AGM, outgoing treasurer and new IPL chairman Arun Dhumal informed the state units that the BCCI's treasury grew from Rs 3,648 crore to Rs 9,629 crore in the last three years.

The Sourav Ganguly-led regime had taken charge in 2019 after the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators' 33-month tenure. "When the current team took over the reins of the BCCI in 2019, the BCCI's coffers had funds of Rs 3,648 crore. We are handing over an organisation that sits over a treasury that has Rs 9,629 crore of funds which is roughly thrice of what we got at the time of our taking over from COA," said Dhumal in his speech.

"The disbursement to the state associations has seen a jump of nearly five times, from Rs 680 crore in the COA time to Rs 3,295 crore now," he added.