Pakistan Blames India for Asia Cup Delay

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board has held its Indian counterpart responsible for the delay in finalising the venue for the next year's Asia Cup.

PCB chief Ejaz But, who is also the Asian Cricket Council chairman, was not happy with the attitude of the BCCI as far as the ACC matters were concerned, sources said.

"Apparently the Indians take little interest in ACC issues and that is why the venue for the Asia Cup has not been finalised as yet although China and Malaysia were shortlisted for the event," the source said.

Butt returned home from Singapore after chairing the ACC meeting and told the media that a committee, headed by BCCI secretary N Srinivasan had been formed to finalise the venue for Asia Cup.

"The committee will look into all the modalities of holding the Asia Cup in either of these associate member countries," Butt added.

The same committee would also look into the possibility of how soon bilateral cricket ties between Pakistan and India can be revived, Butt said.

Pakistan hosted the last Asia Cup in 2008.

"One of the primary beneficiaries of the Asia Cup are the associate members who get funds and a chance to play alongside the full members. But ever since Butt took over as the ACC chairman, the Indians have not bothered to even attend all the meetings," one PCB source said.

The source also said Butt had also tried to raise the issue of Indo-Pak bilateral ties at the ACC meeting but there was no positive response from the Indians.

Butt also described 2009 as a better year for Pakistan cricket, which surprised many who wondered how the year gone by could be described as a better one considering that an terrorist attack on Sri Lanka team in March had virtually ended all international crickets in the strife-torn country.

"This year we also lost the World Cup hosting rights and the only bright spot has been out Twenty20 World Cup win," one former player noted.