The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refuted the idea of sending their team to Pakistan for this year’s Asia Cup and has kept on reinstating that the entire tournament should be held at a neutral venue.
On the contrary, PCB is adamant about hosting the event in their territory, at least some part of it. For this purpose, PCB management committee chairman, Najam Sethi, proposed a hybrid model, under which the initial four matches of the group stage in the primary phase of the tournament shall be played in Pakistan. Moreover, the next phase, including matches of India and finals, is to be played at a neutral venue.
PCB chief had given a straight-up warning of pulling out from Asia Cup 2023 in case the BCCI doesn’t end up affirming the hybrid model.
According to sources in the PCB, the deadlock seems to be coming to an end. Board officials have been informed that BCCI and ACC members are willing to accept the new hybrid model proposed by PCB. In return, BCCI wants assurance from PCB that they would send their team to India for the 2023 World Cup. PCB has not provided any reply in this regard as of yet, but a positive response is not out of the question.
Despite it being a holiday on Saturday, the PCB officials were waiting for an email from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that never arrived.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has called upon a Special General Meeting (SGM) on May 27 in Ahmedabad to oversee the ODI World Cup set to be played this year. The aforementioned hybrid model might be approved in this meeting. The schedule of the World Cup is also expected to be announced on that day.
BCCI would be looking to get assurance from PCB regarding their participation in World Cup before the aforementioned meeting. PCB chief has also raised objection on holding the India-Pakistan game at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. After the deadlock ends, a different venue will be selected for the high-profile encounter between the arch-rivals.
Meanwhile, UAE is also eager to host the second phase of Asia Cup. In order to avoid heat, the Emirates Cricket Board has suggested that matches should start from 4:30 PM in the evening.
It must be noted that the Asia Cup is proposed to take place between September 2 and September 16.
