EXCLUSIVE | Asia Cup 2023: Danish Kaneria blasts PCB; says they need to think and speak

Danish Kaneria in an exclusive chat with Khel Now, talked about the upcoming Asia Cup 2023.

The ongoing Asia Cup 2023 controversy may finally come to an end post the IPL final, with the BCCI speculated to announce something about the venue.

Pakistan's most successful Test spinner Danish Kaneria, in an exclusive conversation with Khel Now, spoke at length about the battle between PCB and BCCI and lambasted the former on their ways of dealing with things.

"See, I know, in Pakistan, it is all about staying in the headlines. Both Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi are much respected, but they need to think and speak. At the end of the day, the political relations between the two countries aren't great, and you never know what a new morning would be like in Pakistan."

After BCCI made clear that Team India won't be travelling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, PCB threatened to boycott the World Cup to be played in India later this year. Kaneria said that Pakistan would be the one to incur financial losses, while India wouldn't mind if Pakistan doesn't make it to the World Cup.

"The board should look to better the relations by playing without throwing any random statements. What if India backs out of the Asia Cup? Pakistan will lose so many sponsors. If Pakistan doesn't come for the World Cup, it won't really matter to India."

Kaneria further questioned the developmental system in Pakistan cricket, where the young guys aren't being groomed.

He said, "In India, there is a lot of focus on domestic cricket, the players are being taken care of financially. Here in Pakistan, domestic cricket has zero focus and we aren't able to produce and nurture talent like what's happening in India. They are afraid to bench the likes of Rizwan. They think what if someone else performs and takes their place? That thinking needs to change for good. What if Shaheen Afridi gets injured? There is no one to replace him."

As time passes by, it looks likely that the Asia Cup will be played in a hybrid model, with India, most probably, playing all their matches in UAE, with the rest of the tournament set to stay in Pakistan.