Asia Cup: BCCI official Rajeev Shukla reached Pakistan for the Asia Cup, and said not to link it with politics!

Indian Cricket Board President Roger Binny and Vice President Rajeev Shukla visited Pakistan for the first time in 17 years on Monday to watch the Asia Cup match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Former Indian team player Binny and Congress leader Shukla reached Lahore on Monday after crossing Attari-Wagah. PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, happy with the arrival of the BCCI officials, expressed hope that relations between the two cricket boards will improve after the Indian board accepted the invitation.

Both the BCCI officials will watch the Asia Cup Super Four matches on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Indian team last traveled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup. Pakistan last hosted India in 2006 for a bilateral series. The BCCI refused to send its team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, due to which it is being organized in two countries (Pakistan and Sri Lanka) in a 'hybrid model'.

Shukla told media persons here, “Pakistan is the host of the Asia Cup. The tour of this delegation is completely related to cricket and there is no politics involved in it. It is a two-day visit and the Governor of Punjab (Pakistan) is hosting us for dinner. On this occasion, all three teams of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan will be present there.

Asked about the possibility of resuming bilateral cricket competitions, the Rajya Sabha MP said, "The decision regarding bilateral series is taken by the Government of India and whatever suggestion the government gives, we will follow it." Chief Ashraf immediately organized a press conference in which Binny and Shukla were also sitting with him. Ashraf said, "I express my heartfelt gratitude to Binny and Shukla for accepting our invitation. We invited him and he accepted.