After all the chaos, Asia Cup finally to be played in this country

There has been a lot of talks about the venue of the Asia Cup 2023. Initially, it was decided that the Asia Cup would be held in Pakistan. But India denied to play in Pakistan. So according to the latest reports, the Asia Cup is moved to Sri Lanka. 

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is planning to shift the tournament from Pakistan, which means Sri Lanka will likely host the 2023 Asia Cup. Since BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced that the Indian team will not cross the border, the decision to move the event from the original host country has always been in the talks. By the end of the month, a final decision will be made about the tournament’s location, with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka supporting the choice of the island nation to host the event. As of right moment, it’s uncertain whether Pakistan will take part in the competition given rumours that it may boycott it. 

The decision currently appears to be a formality, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) continued interest in hosting the tournament at home and BCCI’s support from other ACC members. The PCB had proposed a hybrid approach to host the Asia Cup, wherein India’s matches alone would be staged in Dubai. This was done in response to the BCCI’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the event due to a lack of government approval.

However, no one has expressed interest in that concept, and the tournament broadcaster has voiced misgivings about it as well. The other boards were hesitant to play in the Gulf a month before the 50-over World Cup because September was peak summer in the United Arab Emirates. Even Oman is rumored to have offered to host the event during a recent informal meeting of the ACC members, but given the circumstances, Sri Lanka has been chosen as the ideal location.

Will Pakistan participate?

In the big picture, it’s still unclear how it will affect the upcoming ODI World Cup. According to reports from Pakistan, the PCB might not take part in the competition if the Asia Cup is transferred away from their country. If they choose to skip that competition, their participation in the World Cup, which is scheduled to be held by India in October-November, will also be in doubt.

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram