The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has agreed to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) plan to host the Asia Cup 2023 through a hybrid model, according to sources. The PCB’s proposal suggests that four matches of the tournament will be held in Pakistan, while the remaining matches will be played at a neutral venue which is yet to be determined.
Initially, the PCB had announced that the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore would host the first phase of the tournament, comprising of four matches, while the remainder would be played at the Dubai International Stadium. However, the PCB believes that hosting matches in Dubai will result in higher ticket sales compared to venues in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
It is noteworthy that earlier, the BCCI had declined to send the Indian cricket team to play in Pakistan for the Asia Cup, and instead, requested for a neutral venue due to safety and security concerns of the players. However, the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has given his approval to the PCB’s proposal for a hybrid hosting.
The situation has raised concerns and caused PCB Management Committee Chairman, Najam Sethi, to urge for a reasonable approach in resolving the crisis at hand. Sethi emphasised the need to find a solution that ensures the successful hosting of both the Asia Cup and Pakistan’s participation in the ODI World Cup later this year.
In a media interaction at the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) meeting, Sethi expressed doubts about Pakistan’s chances of travelling to India for the ODI World Cup if India refuses to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup. He highlighted that in such a scenario, the Pakistani government may restrict their team from crossing borders, which would have serious implications for the game of cricket.
The BCCI’s acceptance of Pakistan’s hybrid hosting model for the Asia Cup 2023 is a significant step forward. The decision regarding the neutral venue is still pending, which underlines the importance of diplomatic negotiations and reaching a compromise to ensure the successful staging of these prestigious cricket events.
