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Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that Pakistan not coming for the 50-over World Cup in India later in the year is not a possibility amidst the tension between the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board over the Asia Cup 2023 venue.

Ashwin speaking on his YouTube channel said, "Asia Cup was supposed to take place in Pakistan. But India has announced that if it takes place in Pakistan, then we won't be participating. If you want us to participate do change the venue."

PCB chief Najam Sethi tells BCCI secretary Jay Shah, 'If Asia Cup is moved out of Pakistan then...'

In September last year, Pakistan was allotted the hosting rights of 2023 Asia Cup but after Jay Shah got appointed as the new Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head, he in October said, India will not travel to Pakistan owing to political tensions between both countries. Even when Ramiz Raja was in-charge of Pakistan cricket, he was firm on his stance of boycotting this year’s World Cup if what Jay Shah said would come true.

Meanwhile, as per the source, PCB chief Sethi has had a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif last Tuesday before leaving for Bahrain and discussed the matter with him.

The BBL final will be one of contrasts. On the one hand you have the powerful Perth Scorchers who, barring the occasional blip, have looked the best team (again) this season. On the other, you have Brisbane Heat who were bottom on January 14 but have now strung together seven wins in eight matches to reach the final - their first since 2012-13 - the hard way from the Eliminator, Knockout and Challenger.

It would, however, still be a huge victory against the odds if they were able to claim the title at the Optus Stadium, although there are some uncanny similarities with their previous success when they had overcome Scorchers in Perth after finishing fourth in the regular season.

Hardik Pandya has just lost his shape and missed a wide yorker from debutant left-arm seamer Ben Lister. Blair Tickner now nails the wide yorker, but Shubman Gill sits deep in the crease, holds his shape, and jabs it away between the keeper and short third with his neurosurgeon-like hands. Tickner slumps to his knees in utter disbelief; Hardik at the other end nods in approval of Gill's special skill to make the bowler's best ball look like a poor one.

Lister then tries the wide yorker to Gill, with protection at deep point, and a short third in place, but Gill is so good that he can carve it away between the two fielders. If you have followed Lister in the Super Smash for Auckland, you'll know that the yorker is his best ball although he also has some cutters in his repertoire.

India are all set to lock horns with New Zealand in the third and final T20I of the series on Wednesday and ahead of the series decider, former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir has advised pacer Arshdeep Singh to stick with basics in order to avoid bowling no-balls.

Lately, Arshdeep has come under the scanner for bowling no balls. Earlier, this month, the youngster went on to deliver five no-balls in a T20I match against Sri Lanka, making him the first Indian to achieve this bizarre feat. Previously, the record was held by Ishant Sharma, who had bowled three no-balls in a single T20I.