PAKISTAN TO PULL OUT OF ASIA CUP – ASIA CUP 2023 WITHOUT PAKISTAN?
ASIA CUP 2023 WITHOUT PAKISTAN?
Indian Cricket Board even after all the efforts made by the Pakistan Cricket Board is still not ready to accept the hybrid model of the Pakistan Cricket Board which was proposed by the chairman of the PCB, Najam Sethi and they have made it clear to everyone that they will stick to their stance and will not let the Asia Cup 2023 matches to be played in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has given a choice that even though they have the hosting right for the 2023 Asia Cup but still if Pakistan wants to play the Asia Cup 2023, they will have to play the tournament completely in Sri Lanka or just withdraw from the tournament because India is not ready to give any match of Asia Cup 2023 to Pakistan.
As per the Indian Media – The Telegraph India has reported that the Asian Cricket Council is getting ready for the Asia Cup 2023, but this time Pakistan may not be a part of the tournament –
- Najam Sethi has already made it clear whether the Asia Cup 2023 will be played in Pakistan with that hybrid model otherwise Pakistan team will boycott the tournament this year.
Pakistan Cricket Board even though won the rights fair and square from the Asian Cricket Council to host the Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan, but it seems that everyone will bow down in front of the Indian Cricket Board as Asian Cricket Council is gearing up to host the Asia Cup 2023 without Pakistan on the will of Indian Cricket Board.
The head of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi did everything to save the hosting of the Asia Cup 2023 and for that, he also proposed a ‘’ Hybrid Model ‘’ –
- In the first phase, the initial four matches of the Asia Cup 2023 to be played in Pakistan and the second phase will be played at a neutral venue. I.e. Sri Lanka.
- In the next phase, the remaining matches will be played at a neutral venue including the most important matches between India and Pakistan as well as the final of the tournament.
ACC’S GENERAL MEETING STANCE: BCCI AND OTHER ACC MEMBERS:
The top officials of all the other boards like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka recently visited India for the final of the Indian Premier League and has meetings with the BCCI officials – the reports suggest that BCCI have made it clear to everyone that they will not allow the implementation of this model and all the other members have agreed to play the Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka.
The secretary of the BCCI, Jay Shah in the recent meeting with the heads of the other nations stated that there should be only one venue for the Asia Cup 2023 to be played and the location will be Srilanka – as reported by Indian Media.
The Telegraph India has reported that Pakistan Cricket Board will be officially informed about the decisions that all the members of the Asian Cricket Council have agreed to play the tournament in Srilanka – no one from the members of the Asian Cricket Council is ready to support PCB in this model that PCB wanted to implement for the Asia Cup 2023.
The final decision related to the participation of the Pakistan team in the Asia Cup 2023 is expected to be announced soon as it’s almost certain that BCCI will not agree with PCB and the Asia Cup 2023 is expected to be played in Srilanka as now all other members have also agreed with BCCI.
PAK’S WORLD CUP PARTICIPATION IS ALSO IN DOUBT:
The top officials of the International Cricket Council have also visited Pakistan to cool things down as they are thinking that the current situation between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Indian Cricket Board can also lead to some uncertainties, related to the travel of the Pakistan team for the 2023 ICC World Cup in India.
As per the reports, Pakistan Cricket Board can also ask ICC to implement the same hybrid model for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup and can also opt out of the tournament if they didn’t get permission from the government which has already been mentioned by the PCB Chairman, Najam Sethi that they are ready to sacrifice Asia Cup 2023 and will do the same with the World Cup 2023 for the sake of self-respect.
The option left with the Pakistan Cricket Board is whether they have to agree on what BCCI has decided for the sake of cricket and Asia Cup 2023 otherwise the option left is to opt out of the Asia Cup 2023 as already warned by the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi.
