World Cup 2023 Schedule: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi stated on Thursday that a ‘hybrid model’ may be considered for the upcoming Asia Cup, which is scheduled to take place in August-September and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Pakistan would host India at neutral locations during the Asia Cup, which will take place prior to the 2023 ODI World Cup. The same would apply to the Champions Trophy in 2025. Follow ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 LIVE Updates With InsideSport.IN
“The hybrid model is a perfect solution for the World Cup and the Champions Trophy. If India now wants to have a neutral venue and accepts the hybrid model, we’ll use the same hybrid model in the World Cup. Pakistan can play its World cup matches in Dhaka or any other venue to which India agrees. Similarly in the Champions Trophy, all the other countries can come and play in Pakistan but India can play at a neutral venue. So this is a model that goes forward and resolves this political logjam,” Najam Sethi said.
The Asia Cup will be held in Pakistan, however BCCI secretary Jay Shah said last year that the Indian cricket team will not go there for the continental tournament due to a lack of Indian government approval. However, reports started to circulate that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was open to moving the Asia Cup to another neutral location, preferably Sri Lanka.
In the meanwhile, PTI reported on Thursday that PCB is now trying to persuade the ACC to allocate just the four first-round matches of the Asia Cup to Pakistan, failing which they will be forced to resign from the continental body.
Other member nations have rejected Sethi’s ‘hybrid model’, which would see Pakistan play its home matches apart from India encounter, in their own country. The notion of holding Asia Cup games in Sri Lanka was rejected by PCB.
However, the International Cricket Council (ICC), which is anticipated to release the fixtures as soon as possible, will be the only body to make a decision about the World Cup schedule. There have been reports that the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the 2023 World Cup’s high-voltage match between India and Pakistan.
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