Since the Pahalgam attacks, there has been intense speculation that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC), requesting that India and Pakistan not be clubbed in the same group in the future global events. As with many such matters, there are facts - and then there are alternative facts.
FUTURE TENSE
India-Pakistan ties: What lies ahead in ICC, ACC events?
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has already clarified that the Board will follow the government's advice on the matter © Getty
For the record, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has already clarified that the Board will follow the government's advice on the matter. A top BCCI office-bearer also told Cricbuzz that such a development is news to him. The BCCI authorities are sensitive to the prevailing national mood but as things stand, there is no truth to the speculation.
There is no immediate ICC event on the horizon, with the earliest one being the Women's ODI World Cup scheduled for September-October in India. Pakistan have qualified for it and the eight-team tournament is held in an all-play-all round-robin format, with no groupings involved.
As per the pre-tournament arrangement, Pakistan's matches will be held in a neutral venue. Being the designated host, the BCCI will need to determine that venue - but there is still time before a final decision is made. For the record, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh besides India and Pakistan are the eight teams.
But before the ODI Women's World Cup, there is the men's Asia Cup, again, for which the BCCI is the designated host. As first reported by Cricbuzz, it has been decided that it will be