Thursday May 11, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Managing Committee (MC) Chairman Najam Sethi has said that a decision on the venue of the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 is expected within the next two weeks, The News reported on Thursday.
"Nothing is finalized yet. We will have a decision on the Asia Cup within the next two weeks,” Sethi said when asked by this correspondent while boarding a plane to London for a medical.
A decision on the Asia Cup cricket venue is expected to be taken within the next two weeks as all member countries are currently busy considering their options and priorities.
Sethi spent busy days in the UAE trying to convince members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) of Pakistan's right to host the event and push for the PCB's hybrid model.
Sources privy to these meetings confirmed that most of the member countries wanted an amicable and timely resolution of the issue as the tournament is of great importance due to its timing.
"Since the Asia Cup will help the teams prepare for the World Cup, it is all the more important to resolve the outstanding issue early," the sources said.
Pakistan has already made it clear that if India prefers to play the Asia Cup at a neutral venue (hybrid model), Pakistan would have no option but to follow the same pattern for the World Cup.
"If India chooses not to play in Pakistan, then Pakistan will not play in India regardless of whether it is an ACC or ICC event. The 2025 Champions Trophy could have the same hybrid version and so on if India sticks to its position. " ” said a highly placed source.
The member countries, including India, are expected to come up with a clear stance on participating in the Asia Cup within two weeks.
The PCB also reiterated its earlier stand that if the hybrid model was not acceptable to the ACC and if any proposals were made to relocate the event, then the PCB would withdraw from the competition.
“The PCB is very clear on the Asia Cup. It is Pakistan's right to host the cup and if there is any attempt to take away the event, Pakistan will not participate in any such exercise.
However, to protect the interests of the competition and the countries involved, the PCB has proposed a hybrid model in which some matches in India could be rescheduled offshore,” the source said.
The PCB MC chairman also met the ICC officials. ICC sources have confirmed that neither the 2023 FIFA World Cup schedule has been finalized nor has Pakistan given any commitment to the ICC regarding the tour of India.
"During a meeting at ICC headquarters on Tuesday, Najam Sethi with the ICC discussed the hybrid model and how it can address future challenges without affecting the ICC."
“Najam Sethi has definitely presented a strong case for Pakistan to host Asia Cup 2023 in a hybrid version that allows India to play matches at a neutral venue. ACC officials have assured the PCB that no decision has been taken regarding the relocation of the Asia Cup and that all media stories in this regard were speculative and baseless,” an ACC source also confirmed.
He further added that Najam Sethi shared the revised hybrid version with ACC officials, which primarily dealt with travel, logistics and broadcast issues.
"Najam Sethi reminded the ACC officials that BCB and SLC had already expressed their willingness to play the first round matches in Pakistan in separate emails to the ACC."
It was learned that the PCB rejected the members' argument that matches could not be played in the UAE due to heat, recalling that the 2018 Asia Cup was held from September 15 to 28, the 2020 IPL was held from September 19 to November 10 and 2022 in Asia. The Cup was played from August 27 to September 11.
