According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refused to play an ODI series in Sri Lanka, after SLC expressed their intention to host the entire Asia Cup. As per the sources associated with the PCB, the relationship between the governing body of the sport in Pakistan and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has gone sour, ever since the island nation rejected the proposal of Najam Sethi to conduct the Asia Cup under his well-renowned “Hybrid Model.”
For the unversed, Pakistan is scheduled to play Sri Lanka in two Tests to kick off their World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 campaign in July. SLC, who are confident about their qualification for the Cricket World Cup, had made a suggestion to PCB about hosting their team for a few ODI matches, during the same tour, in preparation for the prestigious event in October and November. But, according to reliable sources, PCB, who had talked about considering the proposal initially, didn't take much time to turn it down.
As per PTI news agency, the same source connected to the Pakistan Cricket Board was quoted as saying about the matter, “An example of the increasingly strained relations between the two boards emerged after the PCB turned down a proposal by the Lankans to play a few One-Day International matches next month in Sri Lanka.”
“It is a clear indication that the PCB is not happy with the Sri Lankan board stepping in to offer to host the Asia Cup in September when it is Pakistan's turn to host the regional event at home,” the source further added.
Meanwhile, the PCB hasn’t commented on reports stating that BCCI and Jay Shah have rejected the Hybrid model proposed by Najam Sethi to host the Asia Cup in Pakistan. The governing body of cricket in India also wants the tournament to be played in Sri Lanka.
