Asia Cup: BCCI accepts PCB's invitation, Rajeev Shukla will go to Pakistan with Roger Binny

BCCI President Roger Binny and Vice President Rajeev Shukla will visit Lahore at the invitation of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Both have accepted PCB's invitation to the Asia Cup. Both officials will be present during the Asia Cup matches in Pakistan from September 4 to 7. The PCB had invited all the key officials including secretary Jai Shah to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup.

Only president Binny and vice-president Rajeev Shukla are understood to have been permitted by the BCCI to travel to Pakistan. The first match of the Asia Cup will be played between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan on 30 August.

Besides Binny and Shukla, BCCI secretary Jay Shah will be present for the India-Pakistan match to be held in Pallekele, Sri Lanka on September 2. After this, all three will return to India on September 3. From here Rajeev Shukla along with Binny will go to Lahore via Wagah border. Rajiv Shukla also went to Pakistan in 2004 with the team that went under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly.

In fact, both Binny and Shukla have been invited for an official dinner to be organized by the PCB in Lahore on September 4. It is understood that both the BCCI office-bearers will watch the Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka match on September 4 and Pakistan's opening Super Four tie the next day.

BCCI Secretary and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Jay Shah announced the schedule of Asia Cup 2023 on 19 July. The tournament will start on 30 August. Four matches will be played in Pakistan and nine in Sri Lanka. India's first match will be against Pakistan on September 2. India is in Group A. Pakistan and Nepal are also with him. Whereas, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are in Group B. The top two teams from both the groups will advance to the Super-4 round. From there two teams will qualify directly for the finals.