jason statham
Age: 124
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by Wisden staff
Monday, April 14, 2003
Pakistan have struck a further blow to the concept of an Asia Cup by announcing their withdrawal from the event scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in August.
"We have informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) of our inability to participate in the Asia Cup and will issue further details next week," said Chisty Mujahid, director of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The PCB decision is believed to have been prompted by India's refusal to tour Pakistan for a Test and one-day series this summer. Pakistan had initially responded to that slight - New Delhi cites "cross-border terrorism" as its reason for eschewing bilateral matches - by announcing that they wouldn't tour India in 2004.
The Asia Cup, introduced in 1983-84, has had a chequered history as a result of the tension between the region's two cricketing superpowers. The last time they played each other in an Asia Cup was back in May 2000, when Dhaka hosted the event. Since then, India and Pakistan have met only once, at Centurion during the recently concluded World Cup.
India last toured Pakistan during the 1997-98 season, while the Pakistani team hasn't crossed the border since 1998-99, when they played a Test series despite threats from Hindu fundamentalists.
The ACC gave Bangladesh permission to host the event after Pakistan - the first choice - withdraw. Apart from Pakistan and India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and two associate members of the ACC - Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates - were expected to take part.
Pakistan's withdrawal now begs the question: how viable is the event, especially in an international calendar packed to overflowing?
