Picture Credit: Twitter
According to reports, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shortlisted two venues to host the 2023 Asia Cup (ODI Edition) as part of their Hybrid Model. The four matches in the initial stages of the tournament are likely to be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, while the remaining matches might get played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in UAE.
The Hybrid Model for Asia Cup was initially introduced by the PCB President Najam Sethi earlier this year, in the wake of BCCI refusing to send Team India to participate in the tournament in Pakistan, due to continuous political tensions between the two nations. Similarly, PCB has indicated multiple times that they won’t be sending the Pakistan cricket team to play the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India, if the BCCI stays adamant with their stance.
It is understood that PCB are currently waiting for an official confirmation about their Hybrid Model from the ACC (Asian Cricket Council). If the Asia Cup gets hosted out of Pakistan entirely, then PCB have threatened to pull out of their ACC membership.
On the sidelines of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) meeting in Pakistan, the PCB President Najam Sethi talked about cricket being the ultimate sufferer, if India doesn’t come to play Asia Cup in Pakistan, while the Cricket World Cup in India doesn’t have Pakistan’s participation.
The 74-year-old was quoted as saying, “In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, chances are there that the Pakistan government would not allow the Men in Green to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In that case, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer."
“There should be a middle way to solve problems that surely threaten the smooth hosting of ICC and ACC events. In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the government will not allow us to travel to India to figure in the World Cup matches,” opined Sethi.