The drama surrounding the hosting rights for the Asia Cup 2023 seems to be never-ending, with new developments unfolding daily. The latest update on the ongoing rift between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reveals that PCB Chairman Najam Sethi has put forward a new hybrid model to resolve the issue. This proposal suggests allowing Pakistan to host some matches, but it comes with a warning that PCB might withdraw its membership from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) if the model is rejected.
Pakistan content with 4 games
PCB is currently making efforts to persuade the ACC to permit only four first-round matches to be held in Pakistan. This request comes as a last resort for PCB to have some Asia Cup 2023 games in their home country. However, if their proposal is not accepted, they have threatened to withdraw from the ACC altogether.
Unfortunately for PCB, their ‘Hybrid Model,’ which would see Pakistan hosting their home games except for the clash against India, has been met with rejection from other ACC members. In response, PCB has also turned down the idea of hosting Asia Cup 2023 matches in Sri Lanka.
India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka reject UAE due to the heat
A reliable source close to the cricket board confirmed that PCB Chairman Najam Sethi has informed the ACC in Dubai this week about their plan B of the hybrid model. The proposal suggests that Pakistan would be content with hosting four matches at home. Specifically, the matches between Pakistan and Nepal, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh would be hosted by Pakistan.
However, one major challenge the ACC and the host country now face is the opposition from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India. These nations insist that the event should not be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September due to the extreme heat. In response, the PCB source reminded everyone that the BCCI had organized half of the IPL in the UAE between September and November in 2021, while the last two editions of the Asia Cup were also held in the UAE during the same period.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
