Asia Cup 2023 in all likelihood is set to be played without Pakistan. The reason is that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is playing hard ball. BCCI is in no mood to relent even as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has managed to convince other Asian nations. Instead, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who is also the head of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is preparing plans to have Asia Cup without Babar Azam & Co. However, a final decision is still awaited and is expected this week. Follow India vs Pakistan Cricket LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
With strong ties between the BCCI and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Indian board has vetoed PCB’s efforts and wants the tournament to happen in Sri Lanka. At the next ACC meeting this PCB chief Najam Sethi will be conveyed a clear message.
“There is absolutely zero chance that Pakistan will host Asia Cup. We will also take it to the ICC so that the Champions Trophy is also shifted out. For now, Sri Lanka is likely to host the tournament. But a final decision will be taken only at the ACC meeting,” a senior BCCI official close to the development told InsideSport.
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What is PCB’s Asia Cup 2023 Hybrid Model?
- In the new hybrid model, the tournament will be played in two halves.
- In the first phase, Pakistan will host Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal.
- The 2nd phase will have India’s matches at a neutral venue.
- Sri Lanka is the preferred destination as India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are opposing UAE due to heat.
- The neutral venue will also host the final even if India fail to qualify.
- Once the ACC officially announces the hybrid model, the schedule will be announced at the end of June.
What is PCB’s take on BCCI’s hardball?
It’s clear that it’s not in Pakistan’s hand anymore. And as BCCI has made it clear saying, my way or the highway, Pakistan will have to either accept or refuse to play Asia Cup.
Pakistan had already begun talks with South Africa and Zimbabwe for a Tri-Nation series should Asia Cup deadlock continues.
Hence, it is likely that Pakistan will boycott Asia Cup and will play a Tri-Nation series instead.
What happens to World Cup 2023?
It all depends on PCB’s discussions with the ICC (International Cricket Council) delegates including Chairman Greg Barclay and Chief Executive Officer Geoff Allardice.
The ICC delegates are trying to broker a deal to salvage an India vs Pakistan match in the World Cup as well as ICC Champions Trophy.
As the PCB has threatened to either pull out of World Cup or have Pakistan matches at a neutral venue, ICC is in a tough spot.
ICC is trying to mediate so that PCB does not demand their games to be shifted out. However, at this stage, it is Pakistan government’s decision whether to send the team to India or not.
PCB chief Najam Sethi has already warned that if Asia Cup is moved out, Pakistan will not travel to India for World Cup.
“If the government says that we can play in India for the World Cup despite India not touring Pakistan for the Asia Cup then we will be ready to so,” Sethi told The Telegraph.
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