Azharuddin slams BCCI for double standards over Pakistan ties

Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for agreeing to play against Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup even though it refuses to play bilateral series between the teams owing to geo-political tensions between the neighbouring countries.

There were rumours that the BCCI might skip the Asia Cup, fueled by the board pushing to change the venue for the Asian Cricket Council's (ACC's) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dhaka and when it was unchanged, choosing to not send a representative for the meeting.

However, it did attend the AGM virtually on Thursday and a few days after the meet, the ACC officially announced the tournament would begin on September 9. BCCI, who are hosts of the edition, won't host it in home soil however, and instead the eight-team tournament will take place in the UAE.

Not only did the BCCI agree to take part, it also had no issues in having India and Pakistan slotted together in Group A.

If both teams qualify for the Super Four, they would face off for a second time and if they make it to the final, the arch-rivals would clash for the third time.

Azharuddin was not opposed to India-Pakistan matches, however, he was appalled at the BCCI's hypocrisy of not allowing bilateral engagements between the countries but being willing to face off in international events.

"I always say that everything [bilateral and tournament matches between India and Pakistan] should happen, or if it does not happen, then it should not happen at all. If you're not playing bilateral matches, then you shouldn't play international events too, that's what I believe. But whatever the government and the board decide will happen," Azharuddin told the India media.

The much-anticipated India-Pakistan group-stage clash will take place on September 14.