The Asian Cricket Council Thursday announced Pakistan and Sri Lanka will host the Asia Cup, ending months of stand-off arising from India’s refusal to cross the border over political tension.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India last year categorically refused to send its team to Pakistan who were awarded the event and wanted the event to be hosted on a neutral venue.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to forgo their hosting rights and suggested a hybrid model with four first round matches — not involving India — be played in Lahore and the rest of the event at a neutral venue.
The Asian Cricket Council said it has accepted PCB’s model.
“We are delighted to announce that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held from 31st August to 17th September 2023,” said an ACC release. “The event will see teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, compete in a total of 13 exciting ODI matches.”
The ACC said the tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka.
“The 2023 Edition will feature two groups, with two teams from each group qualifying for the Super Four stage. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will then face off in the final.”
A final match schedule will be announced later.
India and Pakistan have not met on either side’s soil in any version of the game since 2012, and only play each other in international tournaments on neutral grounds.
Asia Cup had also been marred by Indo-Pak tension with the 1986 event saw India not participating while Pakistan did not feature in the 1990 event.
PCB had threatened it would boycott this year’s World Cup in India if its model was not approved.
The International Cricket Council is due to release the schedule of the World Cup shortly with media reports suggesting Pakistan will play India in Ahmedabad on October 15.
The World Cup runs from October 5- November 19.
Pakistan Cricket Board welcomed the decision.
“I am elated that our hybrid version for the ACC Asia Cup 2023 has been accepted. This means the PCB will remain as the event host and stage matches in Pakistan with Sri Lanka as the neutral venue, which was required due to the India cricket team’s inability to travel to Pakistan,” said Najam Sethi, chairman PCB management committee.
This will be the first time since 2008 that matches of a multi-nation cricket tournament will be staged in Pakistan. Fifteen years ago, Pakistan had successfully delivered the six-team ACC Asia Cup 50-over tournament.
Our passionate fans would have loved to see the India cricket team in action in Pakistan for the first time in 15 years, but we understand the BCCI’s position. Like the PCB, the BCCI also requires government approval and clearance before crossing borders.
“In this background, the hybrid model was the best solution and that’s precisely why I advocated for it so strongly. The acceptance of the hybrid model means the event will take place as originally planned, the ACC will stay together and united, and the great game of cricket will continue to thrive and move forward in what will be interesting and exciting times for the subcontinent cricket fans in the coming 20 months.
“In the past 15 months, the PCB has delivered high-profile bilateral series as well as two immensely successful HBL Pakistan Super League events in which some of the world’s leading cricketers participated and enjoyed Pakistan’s outstanding arrangements and unprecedented hospitality. We look forward to providing similar experience to the participating sides in the ACC Asia Cup, which will be a prelude to the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February/March 2025.
“I now look forward to continuing our discussions and deliberations with the ACC and Sri Lanka Cricket to iron out a few minor operational and logistical details so that we can launch our event planning and preparations.
“I want to assure the ACC, its commercial partners, participating countries, and the cricket fans in Pakistan and Sri Lanka that the PCB, as event hosts, will not leave any stone unturned in the successful delivery of the event that is so very critical to the sides featuring in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in October/November in India.
