Shahid Afridi, a former Pakistani cricketer, has expressed his disappointment with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for using weather conditions as an excuse to avoid participating in the Asia Cup matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to media reports, Bangladeshi players are concerned about playing in the UAE during September due to extreme heat.
Afridi’s comments were made in response to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declining to send its team to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed a hybrid model for the tournament, with the initial phase taking place in Pakistan (excluding India) and the second phase in the UAE.
Afridi emphasized that professional cricketers should not make their decision to participate solely based on weather conditions.