ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, Pakistan has gained the support of two crucial members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, for its “hybrid model” proposed for the Asia Cup 2023. The model aims to address concerns raised by India and has garnered favorable responses from the two nations.
Due to strained ties between India and Pakistan over the past decade, bilateral cricket matches have been limited to multi-team events held at neutral venues. Citing safety concerns, India has declined to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup scheduled for September. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has offered to allow India to play their matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to officially respond to the offer, the PCB believes that India seeks to relocate the entire tournament away from Pakistan. The PCB has been engaged in extensive efforts to garner support for its proposal among ACC members.
Local media in Pakistan has reported that both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have approved the hybrid model presented by Pakistan. ACC President Jay Shah, who is also the secretary of the BCCI, is set to evaluate the proposal during an official meeting scheduled to take place within the next two days in Dubai.
According to media reports, Shah intends to convene an official meeting with ACC board members to discuss the PCB’s hybrid model for hosting the Asia Cup. Following this informal consultation, an official council meeting is expected to be held by the end of this month to determine the future of the tournament.
Pakistan’s hybrid model offers two options. The first option involves India playing their matches at a neutral venue, while all other matches would be held in Pakistan. The second option entails four group-stage matches in Pakistan, followed by the Indian team’s matches and subsequent stage matches, including the final, held at a neutral venue.
Asia Cup 2023 group matches in Pakistan
Media sources indicate that the cricket boards of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to the second option. Should this option be accepted, Pakistan would host its group match against Nepal at home, and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, placed in group 2, would also play their group-stage matches in Pakistan. Subsequently, the tournament would transition to a mutually agreed neutral venue.
The PCB prefers the UAE as the neutral venue, ensuring revenue from gate receipts is credited to their account. However, two cities in Sri Lanka, Dambulla and Pallekele, are also being considered as potential neutral venues.
The acceptance of Pakistan’s hybrid proposal by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh deals a blow to India’s desire to relocate the entire Asia Cup away from Pakistan.
The upcoming official meeting of the ACC will play a crucial role in determining the course of the tournament, and Pakistan remains optimistic about the prospects of successfully hosting the event while accommodating India’s concerns.
